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Hawaiian Air confirms dates for Jan- March commercial flights

Hawaiian Airlines plane on the HNL reef runway
Medicaid office announces one-way Honolulu medical flight
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Hawaiian Airlines has already approved and entered into their computer system five flights that were proposed by Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga between Honolulu and Pago Pago for the first quarter of 2022 — from January to March next year.

Lemanu proposed the flight schedule in October through a letter to airline president and chief executive officer Peter Ingram. The governor proposed flights scheduled for: Jan. 6 and Jan. 27; Feb. 17; as well as Mar. 10th and Mar. 31st.

And totally separate from the HAL commercial flights, ASG has confirmed a one-way medical charter for Monday, December 13, 2021.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries on the commercial flights, Hawaiian Airlines spokesman, Alex DaSilva confirmed the schedule for their commercial flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago.

As of press time, the five-flights are scheduled to arrive in Pago Pago at 9:20p.m. with a departure time for Honolulu at 11:20p.m, according to the airline’s website.

The governor said in a news release in October that the separation of these flights would allow ASG emergency first responders, health care staff, and administrators adequate time to rest and recover before continuing their service to assist travelers to enter the Territory safely.

“I support the work of the GAR and COVID-19 Task Force, and I believe we are still on the right track with managing this strategy of controlled border travel to limit the positive COVID-19 cases entering the Territory to those in post-travel quarantine,” the governor said.

“Our COVID-19 vaccination numbers are not quite where we need them to be to open up a more frequent schedule of travel. We cannot afford to miss any opportunity to keep our territory safer,” he said.

The COVID-19 Task Force and ASG is pushing for a 90% or more vaccination rate and this prompted the mass vaccination on Tutuila island that started last week for Central District followed by the Western District this week and the Eastern District next week.

Samoa News understands that the task force has been working on a proposed flight schedule to and from Pago Pago for the second quarter of 2022.

Meanwhile, the last commercial flight for 2021 between Honolulu and Pago Pago is scheduled for today, Dec. 6th. The Hawaiian Airlines website shows — as of press time — that estimated time of arrival in Pago Pago is 6:45p.m., with an estimated departure for Honolulu at 9:30p.m.

COVID-19 testing carried out by the Department of Health for all 'unvaccinated' and 'partially vaccinated' travelers was held yesterday. The required test, also applied to 5 to year olds who have not been vaccinated or partially vaccinated.

DECEMBER MEDICAID CHARTER COMFIRMED

Totally separate from the HAL commercial flights, ASG has confirmed a one-way medical charter for Monday, December 13, 2021. This is only an outbound flight from Pago to Honolulu.

 “Priority for the medical charter will be for medical referral patients,” according to a brief statement from the Medicaid office, emailed to Samoa News.

All others interested in a seat on the Dec. 13 charter should contact the Medicaid office to get on the list and pay the cost share for the charter.

The email says first class seats are available for $1,200 and all other seats are $895. Lap children under 2years old only pay the 10% tax.

The deadline for seat reservations is Dec. 9. Additional information was not available at press time including the departure time of the medical charter, which is operated by Hawaiian Airlines.

The Medicaid Office made clear that this is not a regular Hawaiian Airlines flight and seat reservations must be made at the Medicaid office.

There are 100 seats available to the public on a ‘first come first serve’ basis with all other seats reserved for medical referrals.”

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