Officials of Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways told a hearing of the Senate Government Operations Committee Tuesday that the increase in fares on the inter Samoa route are the result of hikes imposed by the Samoa Airport Authority. The increases which went into effect March 1 raise the departure tax from $65 to $80 tala plus a new fee called the Aerodrome Facility Charge of $100 tala
The new fees which were approved by the Samoa cabinet and signed by the Head of State are included in the cost of airline tickets. All travelers leaving Samoa at either Faleolo Airport or Fagalii Airport have to pay these fees. And it was revealed at the Senate hearing that even transit travelers in Samoa for less than 24 hours have to pay them.
Tevaga Stanley Nansen of Samoa Airways said these fees have increased the cost of a round trip ticket between Pago Pago and Apia on Samoa Airways from $296 to $338.60, an increase of $42.60
Faigofie Manase of Talofa Airways said their basic roundtrip fare is now $350.60
Committee Chairman Senator Togiola Tulafono said members of the public have complained that the airfares between Tutuila and Upolu are too high. He said reports he’s received is that the increases equate to $440.
Talofa Airways representative Manase distributed to the committee a breakdown of other costs that transit travelers who are US nationals have to pay when entering Samoa or transiting via Faleolo Airport.
These include the Samoa permit which ranges from $20 to $50 depending on length of stay, and a return transit fee of $60. If a US national traveler flies to Samoa to go to New Zealand, they would pay the entry permit. Then when they leave Samoa for New Zealand they would pay the new departure tax and Aerodrome Facility Charge. And upon return, via Samoa to come home they would again pay the entry permit , and the departure tax and aerodrome facility charge, and this are all included in the airfares. According to Manase all these fees and the airfare works out to about $US420.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean wanted to know who has the authority in Samoa to waive the new fees. Accotding to Tevaga, it would be the cabinet.
Director of Port Administration Barney Sene said the only fee that the local airport charges which is included in the airfares to Samoa is a Passenger Facility Fee of $4.50. This fee was set by the Federal Aviation Administration. The PFC , which is applied to all US airports has been the same for 30 years.
When asked about the possibility of an airport tax for American Samoa Sene said we would have to consult with FAA and stressed that such a tax must be approved by the federal agency.
Tuaolo said the airlines were making good profit from flights between Samoa and American Samoa. He said the ones who will suffer the most from the increase in airfares are Samoan citizens residing in the territory, for example StarKist workers.
Senator Magalei Logovii was also of the view that those who will bear the brunt of the increase in fares are citizens of Samoa who have to travel for faalavelave.
Manu’a Senators Ma’o and Tuialu’ulu’u were happy to learn that the airfares for Manu’a have not changed, $260 roundtrip to Fitiuta and $300 roundtrip to Ofu.
Committee Chairman Togiola said the hearing has added to the committee’s understanding and will help form a response either through legislation or discussions at the government to government level.
