When Samoa Airways was launched just over a year ago, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in his opening address alluded to Samoa Airways soon flying a Boeing 737MAX aircraft.
That will now become a reality after the signing yesterday of an MOU to lease a Boeing 737 MAX9 plane from Airlease Corporation, a Los Angeles based aircraft leasing company set up 9 years ago.
Company founder and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy was in the country yesterday to sign the memorandum with Tuilaepa and Samoa Airways Board chairman Fe’esago George Fepulea’i.
“The latest in the Boeing Family, Samoa Airways will be the first airline in the South Pacific Region including New Zealand and Australia to operate the Boeing 737 MAX 9,” boasted a government press release yesterday.
According to the release, while the lease agreement is confidential Hazy hinted that after months of negotiations with the national carrier they have reached an agreement which will provide concessions for Samoa Airways to remain competitive.
The concessions are said to include a seasonal lease package payment schedule for Samoa Airways depending on passenger loading capacities during the slow season as well as a “maintenance honeymoon” component with Boeing that includes a trainiing clause for the airline’s pilots and staff.
