Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a July 29th decision the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) granted a cabotage waiver requested by Polynesian Limited d/b/a Samoa Airways to continue operating flights between Tutuila and the Manu’a island group from Aug. 1, 2021 to Jan. 27, 2022.

The Samoa government owned airline requested the cabotage waiver in a July 21st letter through its Washington D.C. attorneys — saying that the Pago Pago- Manu’a Islands route is still without a U.S. carrier service and there is no indication this will change.

Additionally, Samoa Airways remains able to provide transportation between the two points, thus preventing severe hardship to American Samoa residents, who could otherwise be required to travel between the islands by boat,

In the past six months, Samoa Airways said it operated approximately 132 roundtrip flights, transporting more than 2,900 passengers using a DHC6-300 Twin Otter aircraft.

“There is a clear need for continued cabotage service through February 1, 2022” and that the airline’s Pago Pago- Manu’a Islands service is also fully supported by the American Samoa government, which has previously submitted letters confirming the need for the service.

Furthermore, approval is “supported by comity and reciprocity between the United States and the Government of Samoa.”

Currently, flights are only to and from Fitiuta Airport on Ta’u island, as the Ofu Airport, serving the islands of Ofu and Olosega, is closed for a major upgrade to the runway, funded by the US federal government.