Fiji Airways to fly to Honolulu via Apia

Fiji Airways has started advertising fares for flights from Apia to Honolulu on its website

And according to Samoa’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Olo Fiti Vaai, the United States has already given its approval.

H said the service will start on August 26 after the airline completes air service license requirements.

A search of the USDOT website by KHJ News did not find a notice of approval for the airline.

Nonetheless the airline is accepting bookings on the Apia to Honolulu route. KHJ News did a test with a return trip booking for early September for 1 adult and the fare was $US1,826.

The service will be once a week. Fiji Airways was flying this route in the past and local residents were using it especially during the busy summer and Christmas and new year season.

Olo also confirmed to Samoa Observer that Virgin Australia will once again ply the Samoa-Australia route this month as well.

Qantas and Air New Zealand started full commercial flights to and from Australia and New Zealand respectively when Samoa’s international borders opened earlier August 1.

The Minister said other international airlines have shown interest in flying to Samoa but he declined to identify them.

So far only Virgin Australia, Qantas, Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways have published public notices of intentions to fly to Samoa.

Government owned Samoa Airways and privately owned Talofa Airways currently service the lucrative Apia-Pago Pago route daily.