Connecting passengers from Pago Pago to Apia for weekly flights on Fiji Airways “is difficult and expensive”, according to the federally funded air transport market study for American Samoa that covers a wide range of issues, including Fiji Airways and its domestic subsidiary Pacific Sun.

Over the years, local residents heading to Honolulu have opted to travel via Apia — even overnighting in Samoa — to catch the Friday flight (Samoa time) to Honolulu. They say the route is less of a hassle and cheaper than the Hawaiian Airlines direct flight from Pago Pago to Honolulu.

The study, contracted to UBM Aviation-ASM or Airport Strategy Marketing Limited, says Hawaiian Airlines “enjoys monopoly status” on the Pago Pago-Honolulu route, and faces only limited competition from parallel weekly service to Honolulu by Fiji Airways from Faleolo International Airport in Samoa.

Fiji’s flag carrier operates through Apia between Nadi and Honolulu and operates out of Samoa on Friday afternoons (which is Thursday afternoon in American Samoa) using a B737- 800 aircraft.

The study cites U.S. Department of Transportation database showing that 29% of the passenger load factor (PLF or occupancy) is just 48 passengers per flight on the Apia-Honolulu route for calendar year 2013.

Discussion with Fiji Airway’s Samoa manager indicates that the flight runs a much higher load factor, the study says.

“Connecting from Pago Pago through Apia to Honolulu is difficult and expensive. Fiji Airways’ economy fares are slightly lower than Hawaiian’s but its business fares are higher,” the study says, and noted that the 165-seat aircraft is configured with just eight business class seats, which are shared between local and through passengers.

The study also says that the appeal of Fiji Air’s service for American Samoa passengers is limited by the addition of the Pago-Apia fare, the need to make a separate reservation, the turboprop flight and lengthy connecting times or overnight stays.

“The revised schedule allows passengers to connect in both directions, however, without the need for an overnight stay in Apia,” it says and explained that demand for air service is heavily influenced by the cost and convenience of travel in both short run and long run.

“Thus, a market that offers limited schedules and high fares will discourage travel and the effect will be greater the longer those conditions prevail,” it says. “If potential passengers know they will never see an affordable fare, they organize alternative plans for travel elsewhere.”

According to the study, Fiji Air has acquired advanced wide-body A330 aircraft to replace older and larger B747s and increase service. Its regional subsidiary Pacific Sun operates large ATR turboprop aircraft.

UBM Aviation-ASM says it contacted Fiji Air about possible Suva, Fiji service to Pago Pago with turboprop aircraft, or an extension of its Suva — Nuku’alofa,Tonga flights to serve the Nukualofa- Pago market.

“Fiji Airways remains interested in the market and is open to further discussions,” the study says.