Hawaiian Airlines has changed flight dates and reduced the remaining flights for 2021 based on a request by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga to Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mr Peter Ingram.
The Sept 27th flight remains but subsequent flight dates have been moved and there will be fewer flights than the schedule that was set earlier.
The new flight dates are:
- October 14
- November 1
- November 18
- December 6.
The previously announced flight dates after the Sept 27 flight were:
- October 11
- October 25
- November 8
- November 22
- December 6
- December 20
In a letter dated September 21, to Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mr. Peter Ingram, Governor Lemanu requested the changes due to “…we have determined that separating flights by only 14 days taxes our ability to quarantine people in American Samoa.”
In a press release the Governor said, “It was not an easy decision to make and I humbly ask for everyone’s patience and support as we make a slight change to the travel plans for the Territory.”
He said the GAR (Governor’s Authorized Representative) Lt Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale consulted him on recent discussions by the Covid 19 Task Force meetings. Lemanu commended the Task Force for their hard work and diligence in keeping the territory safe with the “least amount of COVID cases as possible.”
The GAR briefed the Governor on possible options that the Dept of Health and Emergency Operations Center believed would help American Samoa navigate these uncharted times while maintaining the least amount of COVID cases in the territory.
After careful consideration, the Governor decided to ask Hawaiian Airlines to update their schedule.
Lemanu stated, “Each flight is an opportunity to learn more about how we can incorporate the safest travel system possible that will fit American Samoa, which will ultimately set us up to open up our borders responsibly. “
The Taskforce discussed many factors from various scenarios presented to the GAR, such as traveler experience and the impacts to the traveler accommodation as well as the airline business side.
“We understand this will cause some frustration.,” said the Governor. “However, we need to err on the side of caution. Understand that our limited resources and capabilities to respond to an overwhelming surge will not be in our favor.”
He added,”This first positive case is an example of how well the Safe Travels American Samoa initiative is at work, the prescreening of the TALOFAPASS system, gives me hope that we are moving in the right direction. At the same time, it has opened up our eyes to our vulnerabilities.”
Governor Lemanu personally thanked Mr. Ingram for approving the request for changes to the Hawaiian Airlines flight schedule and for his hard work and dedication of service to American Samoa.
