Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga has proposed to the Hawaiian Airlines CEO, Mr Peter Ingram, a schedule of travel dates for the first quarter of 2022.
Governor Lemanu proposed the flight schedule in a letter dated October 19, 2022, which was made well in advance to assist with “planning future operations” for the upcoming calendar year.
A press release from the Governor’s Office said, “The separation of these flights will allow ASG emergency first responders, health care staff, and administrators adequate time to rest and recover before continuing their service to assist travelers to enter the Territory safely.”
The proposed flight schedule is as follows:
- Thursday, January 6, 2022
- Thursday, January 27, 2022
- Thursday, February 17, 2022
- Thursday, March 10, 2022
- Thursday, March 31, 2022
“I support the work of the GAR and COVID-19 Task Force, and I believe we are still on the right track with managing this strategy of controlled border travel to limit the positive COVID-19 cases entering the Territory to those in post-travel quarantine,” states Governor Lemanu.
“Our COVID-19 vaccination numbers are not quite where we need them to be to open up a more frequent schedule of travel. We cannot afford to miss any opportunity to keep our Territory safer. I am committed to reopening our borders, but I want to do it responsibly. As a result, this will mean increasing personnel, resources, training, and equipment to continue to assist in early detection, containment and treatment. Also, we need to remain in a state of readiness in case the borders would need to close at a moment’s notice.”
The Governor commended Mr. Ingram and the entire Hawaiian Airlines family for all the support “during our time of need.”
“I would also like to recognize the COVID-19 Task Force, health care workers and first responders for all their hard work and for pushing forward with the Safe Travels American Samoa initiative. It is a great combination of good decision making and implementing efficient systems and policies such as TalofaPASS that will help us reopen for business as normal and see us through the end of the pandemic.”
