Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S Transportation Department (USDOT) approved on July. 26, Polynesian Limited d/b/a Samoa Airways’ application for renewal of its cabotage exemption to continue flight operations between Tutuila and the Manu’a island group.

“We are granting Samoa Airways’ request to operate its proposed intra-American Samoa services, using its 19-seat Twin Otter aircraft, for an additional period of 180 days, that is, July 27, 2022, through January 22, 2023, or until five days after a U.S. carrier initiates intra-American Samoa passenger operations, whichever occurs first,” according to the USDOT decision dated July 27th.

“Based on the record in this proceeding, we concluded that no U.S. carrier had aircraft available that could be used to conduct the operations at issue here,” it says. “We also found that grant of this authority would prevent unreasonable hardship to the residents of American Samoa.”

A 2018 federal law authorizes USDOT to renew for not more than 180 days cabotage exemptions for air transportation in American Samoa between the islands of Tutuila and Manu’a.