Talofa Airways Ready to Spread Its Wings

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Talofa Airways Company is a new family owned airline in Samoa that has its sights set on starting air service between Apia and Pago Pago.

It’s main principal, Toaleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, has flown for Polynesian Airlines and Air Pacific, now Fiji Airways and is affiliated with several businesses in Samoa including TV1.

His wife Maria is the daughter of one of the most successful business families in Samoa, the Ah Likis, whose patriarch is the late Magi Westerlund.

Their businesses include a bank, hotels, the biggest and most modern supermarkets in Samoa, hardware stores, construction and farming.

They also have business interests here and in New Zealand.

Toleafoa also has familial connections to the owners of the Apia-based airline that flew to American Samoa briefly in 2013, Samoa Air.

A local agent has been doing the preliminary due diligence for the airline since last year.

The airline plans to launch domestic flights in Samoa next month and is looking to start service to American Samoa in the latter part of this year.

It has already notified ASG of its interest in leasing space at Pago Pago International Airport.

It’s not known what type of aircraft the airline will be using but KHJ News has been told that it is a plane that would meet Federal Aviation Administration standards.

Polynesian Airlines has been the sole carrier on the inter Samoa route for more than 2 years.

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