Government of Samoa: Samoa Airways debuts in Auckland

16-Nov-2017 With the Auckland-Faleolo international route generating revenues in the neighborhood of NZ$50-to NZ $60 million a year, Government is heedful that Samoa Airways has a fighting chance to survive the grueling dog eat dog international air services competitions. The promising lucrative revenues coupled with being double crossed by its partners in the airline industry have prompted government to say enough is enough. It has also incited confidence in government to launch its rebranded Samoa Airways (formerly Polynesian Airlines) in the international arena zooming in to the Faleolo-Auckland route. At the exclusive all Samoan community event at the Maota o Samoa's Consulate Office in Mangere Auckland Tuesday evening to launch the rebranded Samoa Airways return to the international limelight, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has reassured Samoans in New Zealand and worldwide that the bick stops here with the return of Samoa Airways as the country's flag carrier. And he reminisced on past short comings by the national carrier and the lessons by government. "We will no longer be taken for a ride when it comes to affordable airfares for our people to commute," reaffirms the Prime Minister. "Our past shortcomings are regrettable and your government has learned a treasure to come to the conclusion that that the fate our national carriers in our hands," continued the Prime Minister. "But for Samoa Airways to survive, it's a must for us to clean up our act. "Samoa Airways will operate on cash up front basis, (similar to pre-paid cash power and mobile phone credit systems) without exceptions. "We have learned from past experiences that giving credit to our Men of the Cloth to fly fundraising groups to New Zealand and even MP's to fly supporters overseas were the demised of our the old airline. Rest assured when I say this, that practice of the old will no longer be accepted." On that note, the Prime Minister is calling on his country men and women to support Samoa Airways to survive "Samoa Airways represents more than just tourists who can afford to pay airfares to visit Samoa and inject fresh cash to our economy. "Our national carrier translates to food on the table for handicraft vendors, taxi and bus drivers, farmers, accommodation stakeholders and a range of our tourism service providers not to mention new employment for hundreds of school graduates," he added noting that tourism revenues is the main of Samoa's economy.