Samoa Airways announced today that there will be no new aircraft joining them in 2026, as they had planned before. Their finance minister Mulipola Anarosa Molio’o has stated that in order for their jet operations to resume, they will need a preparation period of one to two years. Included in this preparations will be ground handling equipment, aircraft servicing, crew training, and upgrades to the capacity of the airport. Mulipola has stated that attempting to undertake the additional aircraft without the necessary preparations would be ‘unwise’.
Prime Minister’s Promise
Back in November 2025, Samoa’s Prime Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, had given a late 2026 deadline for the acquisition of two jets whose expected routes were supposed to be to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States of America. At the moment, the airline has stated that there will be no new jets this year for these routes.
Prior estimates of the annual operating cost of these new international projects have been calculated at around WST30 million tala (or $11 million), excluding the costs of the air-crafts in themselves. A decision as to whether the aircraft needed for this project will be bought or leased has yet to be made. In order to gain the necessary capital, a cabinet-approved task force is set to meet and align with the country’s sovereign wealth fund, The Unit Trust of Samoa (UTOS). This wealth fund is mostly funded by domestic investors. In order to reach the minimum investment threshold of WST500 ($184), the country hopes to attract the interest and investment of Samoa diaspora.
Prior Acquisitions
Past plans of aircraft acquisition have taken place, as in 2019 they were meant to receive a Boeing 737-9 which was never delivered due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX on a worldwide level. A lease for a Boeing 737-800 has taken place in 2021, only for the plane to be retired only seven months after. At the moment, the airline currently operates three DHC-6-300s.
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