Talofa Airways Gets the Nod from USDOT

talofa-airways

With approval from the US Department of Transportation in hand, Apia-based Talofa Airways Ltd is now gearing up to begin flights on the inter Samoa route, ending a monopoly by Samoa’s national carrier Polynesian.

The principals of Talofa Airways, Toleafoa Jeffrey and Maria Hunter, were in the territory to finalize arrangements for starting up their company when they received notice from their Washington D.C. lawyer Zuckert Scoutt Rasenberger of the DOT approval.

A filing by their lawyers says upon receipt of all necessary government approvals, Talofa Airways propose initially to operate up to

  • 8 scheduled round trip flights per day between Apia, and Pago Pago,
  • 3 scheduled round trip flights per week between Apia and Pago Pago via either Vava’u or Nukualofa,
  • 3 weekly round trip flights between Apia and Pago Pago and beyond either Vavau or Nukualofa and
  • 4 all cargo round trip flights per week between Apia and Pago Pago and
  • 2 scheduled all cargo round trip flights per week between Pago Pago on the one hand and Vava’u and Nukualofa on the other.

In a ruling issued yesterday, USDOT granted tentative approval to Talofa Airways for a foreign air carrier permit to engage in scheduled and charter flights for persons and mail beyond Samoa, as well as exemption authority.

The exemption authority is for two years.

The USDOT is also giving interested parties 21 days to fiel objections to the issuance of an order making final its tentative approval.

The department said it is in the public interest to issue Talofa a foreign air carrier permit for operations with small aircraft.

It said the applicant is fit, willing and able to properly perform the foreign air transportation and to conform with USDOT rules, regulations and requirements.

It also finds that the applicant has demonstrated,based on the record, that its financially and operationally qualified to perform the services authorized.

In addition, said DOT, “we find that is is substantially owned and effectively controlled by citizens of its claimed homeland.”

The airline has received an American Samoa business license and has hired key staff. 

A start up date for its flights has not been set.

 

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