Air New Zealand, which used to connect the two Samoas to New Zealand and the Americas in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, will be landing at Pago Pago International Airport in two months.
This will be a one-off charter flight by the New Zealand American Football Federation to bring two Under 20 football teams from Aotearoa to play against local teams.
The connection between the NZ Federation and American Samoa was made when ASG Sports Commissioner Ethan Lake was in NZ in January on an official trip.
This quickly led to discussion about bringing a team from New Zealand to play Under 20 football teams from American Samoa.
And the plan is becoming a reality in the first week of June.
Here now to check out hotels, sports facilities, tourist attractions and what American Samoa has to offer sports tourists, are Federation Financial Manager Anton Van de Weele, General Secretary Patsy Whaanga and a travel agent who is making all of the arrangements for the charter flight, Jesse Watene.
he Air New Zealand charter is set to fly direct from Auckland to Pago Pago, on June 2 and as Whaanga, the Federation secretary explains, the players will engage in more than just football.
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Financial Secretary Van de Weele says to cover the costs of the charter they will be bringing in paying passengers and also taking on the return flight travelers from American Samoa who want to holiday in the City of Sails.
