One of the two airlines plying the Apia-Pago Pago route is refusing to operate out of the newly reopened Fagali’i Airport until questions on safety are addressed.
Samoa Observer reports the co-founder of Talofa Airways, Maria Westerland Hunter, said they will continue to operate their flights from Faleolo International Airport until the Fagalii Airport’s tarmac is up to standard.
Questions have been asked about the quality of the work to rebuild Fagalii Airport’s tarmac following reports of damage to plane tires upon landing, soon after the airport was relaunched at a price tag of $2million tālā.
During recent deliberations on the 2023/2024 budget in Parliament, the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo said the airline has $4 million tālā allocated in the budget, adding that if tires “popped” then fix them.
Minister for Civil Aviation, Olo Fiti Va’ai, said the airline has not changed tires for more than 30 years because there was no money for new ones.
Olo also said that the surface materials used to lay Fagalii Airport’s tarmac are similar to those used for the tarmac at Faleolo International Airport.
