Samoa Airways has applied to the US Department of Transportation for renewal of its exemption from the cabotage rule for another 6 months so it can continue flights between Tutuila and Manu’a.
The cabotage rule prohibits a foreign airline from providing direct flights between two US ports. The airline’s current exemption expires January 6, 2026.
In its latest application, the airline through its Washington attorney, Charles Donley II, said without renewal of this exemption Samoa Airways will be forced to suspend all service linking the Manu’a islands and Tutuila. It said the Government of American Samoa has requested that Samoa Airways continue to provide emergency service between Pago Pago and the Manu’a Islands to prevent American Samoan residents from being left with little or no air service.
Samoa Airways has agreed and is prepared and willing to continue operations.
The airline says no US carrier is available to provide Pago Pago to Manu’a Islands service, nor is one likely to be in a position to provide this service in the near future.
KHJ News points out that Pacific Island Air Charters has been operating limited flight service between Tutuila and Manu’a since October.
According to the application between May and November 2025, Samoa Airways operated 320 scheduled flights transporting 3,557 passengers and hundreds of pounds of cargo, in addition to five medical evacuations, demonstrating the urgent need for its services.
USDOT may authorize a foreign air carrier to transport commercial traffic between US points under limited circumstances.
It must find that:
- the authority is required in the public interest,
- because of an emergency created by unusual circumstances not arising in the normal course of business the traffic cannot be accommodated by a US carrier
- all possible efforts have been made to accommodate the traffic on US certificated air carriers
- the exemption is necessary to avoid unreasonable hardship for the traffic.
Samoa Airways says its application meets all of the criteria for grant of an exemption.
It said suspension of air service would result in severe hardship to passengers and shippers, that with limited medical care in Manu’a residents need the service to fly for medical care in Pago Pago, US carrier air service between Pago Pago and the Manu’a islands is not available making it extremely difficult or impossible for passengers to travel between the islands, and boat service is not a suitable substitute as the arduous sixty mile journey by sea can take 8 hours or more depending on the weather.
