Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hawaiian Airlines local office has issued a flight advisory for Monday’s Medical charter — which is for outbound to Honolulu only on Dec. 13th, saying that the flight will depart Honolulu at 8a.m. and arrives in Pago Pago at 12:50p.m. Estimate departure time from Pago Pago is 2:50p.m and arrives in Honolulu at 9:20p.m.

Ticket counter will open from 9:30a.m to 1:30p.m, while security checkpoint will operate from 11:30a.m. to 1:50p,m.

According to the advisory, ticket counter and security checkpoint times will be strictly enforced with no exceptions for late arriving.

To passengers, the airline said, “We will close promptly as scheduled so we may prepare for the flight. We encourage and advise all passengers to please arrive early and have all proper travel documents prepared for check-in.”

MEDICAID STATE AGENCY UPDATE

The Health Department’s Tafuna Health Clinic will conduct COVID-19 tests on Sunday, Dec. 12th from 9a.m. to 12noon for all travelers on the outbound medical charter scheduled for Monday, Dec. 13th.

In a brief statement over the weekend, the American Samoa Medicaid State Agency announced the testing time and date. “All travelers are required to get a COVID test to enter Hawaii, regardless of vaccination status,” it says. “Further, all passengers must complete the Hawaii Safe Travels application online and submit their 24-hour health questionnaire.”

For more information, please contact Medicaid Office at 699-4777.

Last Friday, Port Administration director Christopher King issued a reminder to the public regarding Monday’s charter flight, saying that face masks are required to be worn while in the terminal and that airport security will be enforcing this policy at the security station entering the airport.

Additionally, passengers ONLY will be allowed in the Terminal and airport staff will assist with seniors and passengers needing assistance to the terminal.

Port Administration requests that everyone bid their farewells at home “as there will be NO gathering allowed in the airport parking lot and/terminal.”

Port Administration reinterated that it “strongly insists” that all checked-in passengers clear Immigration and the security checkpoint, leading to TSA, no later than 1:50p.m. and there are “no exceptions”.

DEC. 6 FLIGHT BROUGHT OVER 250 TRAVELERS

Over 250 travelers arrived on the Dec. 6 Hawaiian Airlines commercial flight from Honolulu and were immediately transported to the usual sites for a 7 day quarantine requirement. This is the last flight between Honolulu and Pago Pago for this year.

At the COVID-19 Task Force meeting this week, chairman Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale requested task force members to review and finalize the proposed schedule for April - July 2022 before the end of the year to allow travelers to plan travel arrangements in advance, according to a task force news release.

Hawaiian Airlines flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago for the first quarter — from January to March of 2022 are already approved by the airline and in place for Jan. 6 and Jan. 27; Feb. 17; as well as Mar. 10th and Mar. 31st.