Samoa Airways has received the green light from the US Department of Transportation to continue air service between Tutuila and Manu’a for another six months.
USDOT on Monday, January 5 granted approval to the Samoa carrier for exemption from the cabotage rule effective from January 7, 2026 to July 5, 2026.
The airline had asked for a 12 months extension however USDOT said it was deferring action for the remaining period requested. The previous exemption expired January 6, 2026.
USDOT said in its ruling, “We found that this action met all the relevant criteria for the grant of an exemption of this type, for a period of 180 days, and that the grant was required in the public interest. The absence of U.S. carrier passenger service, with no such service foreseeable in the near future, continues to constitute an emergency created by unusual circumstances not arising in the normal course of business.”
USDOT also said that the applicant was qualified to perform the proposed operations.
At the end of the 6-month period USDOT will review if the unusual circumstances that established the need for the exemption still exist, and will be prepared to decide at that time whether the situation warrants extension of this authority for an additional term.
