After 8 last night, a Fiji Airways plane arrived at Pago Pago International Airport with Polynesian Airlines passengers who were stranded in Apia.
The Fiji Air flight was chartered by Polynesian Airlines to pick up passengers whose travel was disrupted by the airline as a result of aircraft malfunctions.
For the past several weeks, passengers on Polynesian, the only airline serving the inter Samoa route, have faced delays of several hours due to mechanical failures.
Polynesian has three Twin Otters but there have been times when only one has been flying.
This at one of the busiest travel periods on the inter Samoa route with groups attending church conferences, family reunions, sports events and other gatherings.
Flights between Tutuila and Manu’a were also interrupted.
Passengers who arrived here on the Fiji Air charter last night said they were supposed to arrive yesterday morning but after several hours waiting at Fagalii Airport, they were told that they will be bused to Faleolo Airport to catch a flight to travel here.
But at Faleolo they waited the whole day up to the evening when they were informed that Fiji Airways is being chartered to fly them here.
One man said it was sad seeing elderly parents waiting uncomfortably for hours not knowing when they would leave.
He said the lack of information from staff was annoying.
Passengers who were stranded at this end were able to fly on the return trip to Apia.
An airline staffer from Samoa who was on the Air Fiji flight said that there would be two Fiji Air charters
last night.
