Ads by Google Ads by Google

Green light for more repatriation flights to Samoa

Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi
Sources: RNZ Pacific & Talamua Online

Apia, SAMOA — Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said the Samoa government had approved five repatriation flights from Los Angeles starting later this month.

Samoans in the US and Europe will have to make their own way to Los Angeles or New Zealand to board repatriation flights to Apia, he said.

More than 1,300 people have already registered for five flights from New Zealand in coming weeks.

All who return will have to undergo health checks and quarantine.

Since the lock down and the closing of Samoa’s international borders in March 2020, 9 repatriation flights have brought 2357 Samoans home with 5 more scheduled for late October, November and December.

This includes the direct chartered flight from LA.

The rest of the scheduled flights from New Zealand are scheduled for 30 October, 13 November, 27 November, 4 December and the 11 December.

The number of people registered for these flights is 1350. This number include passengers from Japan, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Europe and the US.

From Japan 8 scholarship students, 10 coming for work in Samoa, 8 that should have returned earlier and 8 visiting families.

From China, 15 returning scholarship students, 20 coming for work, 60 who should have returned earlier and people visiting families.

There are 11 from India and one from the Philippines.

There are 53 returning students from Fiji.  234 passengers from Europe and the US that includes returning sailors, 25 students, 8 missionaries, 6 who went for medical assistance and 105 visiting families. The number of those yet to return is 378.

From Australia, 16 returning seasonal workers, 14 students, 28 coming for work, 58 missionaries and 188 visiting families, and 217 yet to return.

From New Zealand – 5 deceased bodies and 600 yet to return.