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Samoa Air (1987–2003)

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Samoa Air
IATA ICAO Call sign
SE - -
Founded1987
Ceased operationsSeptember 2003
HubsPago Pago International Airport
Fleet size2
Destinations4
HeadquartersPago Pago, American Samoa

Samoa Air was a scheduled and charter passenger airline based in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

History

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An airline named Samoa Air started operations in 1985, with flights from Pago Pago to Honolulu using a leased Boeing 707.[1]

Samoa Air started operations on January 18, 1987, with a single de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.[2] In 1990 both the airline's Twin Otters were damaged in Niue by Cyclone Ofa.[3] In 1996 it was operating Twin Otters between Pago Pago and the Manuʻa Islands, and a Beechcraft King Air to Vavaʻu in Tonga, as well as flights to Apia in Samoa.[2] In January 1997 it celebrated its 10th anniversary.[4]

In June 2002 the company announced plans to expand into a regional airline covering all of Polynesia.[5] In July 2003 it attempted to raise capital for a jet service to Honolulu.[6] In September 2003 it ceased all operations after failing to lease another aircraft to replace its sole Twin Otter, which was scheduled for maintenance.[7] After failing to secure further investors, it sought bankruptcy protection in December 2003.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Samoan airline in service". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 56, no. 4. 1 April 1985. p. 24. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "Serving the Pacific". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 66, no. 12. 1 December 1996. p. 36. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Ravaged by winds and seas". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 60, no. 3. 1 March 1990. p. 15. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Celebrating 10 years in the Pacific". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 66, no. 6. 1 June 1996. p. 45. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Samoa company plans a regional airline". RNZ. 14 June 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  6. ^ "American Samoan airline seeks capital for new venture". RNZ. 1 July 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Samoa Air suspends service". RNZ. 11 September 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Samoa Air files for bankruptcy protection". RNZ. 16 December 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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