FLEET - Samoa Airways completes second Twin Otter overhaul

 Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Faleolo) has taken back DHC-6-300 5W-FAY (msn 690) following a complete overhaul and refurbishment by Unity Aviation, the airline said in a Samoan government press release published on July 21, 2026.

"The refurbishment included major structural repairs and upgrades to ensure the highest standards of safety, reliability, and passenger comfort," the airline said. Work began in September 2025 and is expected to extend the aircraft's operational life by around 30 years.

According to ADS-B data, 5W-FAY was ferried from Calgary to Apia Faleolo between July 1 and 7, 2026, stopping at several airports, including Boise, Santa Maria, CA, Kiritimati, and Hilo. Samoa Airways inaugurated the aircraft on July 17 and returned it to service four days later.

The overhauls of 5W-FAY, and 5W-FAW (msn 827), cost approximately WST22 million tala (USD8 million), according to the release, and were funded entirely from Samoa Airways' revenues without borrowing.

Built in 1980 and acquired by Samoa Airways in 1998, 5W-FAY is the second of the airline's Twin Otters to complete the programme. The younger 5W-FAW returned from Canada in March 2025. Samoa Airways also operates the older 5W-STF (msn 402), bringing its overall fleet to three aircraft.

The airline's published schedule lists services between Apia Fagali'i and Pago Pago, as well as from Pago Pago to Fitiuta and Ofu in American Samoa.

CH Aviation

FLEET - Samoa Airways to refurb Twin Otter after profitability swing

Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Faleolo) will send a second DHC-6-300 for extensive refurbishment to Canada later this year. This follows the airline's swing to profitability after eight years of consecutive losses.

The carrier told local media that the maintenance of the Twin Otter would take it off the fleet until February 2026. Samoa Airways plans to spend WST10 million tala (USD3.7 million) on the refit.

The airline completed the refurbishment of the youngest of its three Twin Otters, 5W-FAW (msn 827), to much fanfare in March 2025. The 40-year-old aircraft is currently in service on the airline's most profitable routes connecting the two airports in the Samoan capital, Apia Fagali'i and Apia Faleolo, with Pago Pago in nearby American Samoa.

The other two Twin Otters in Samoa Airways' fleet are 45.3-year-old 5W-FAY (msn 690) and 51.6-year-old 5W-STF (msn 402). The former has been parked at Apia Faleolo since August 13, 2025.

The fleet refit follows Samoa Airways' historically good financial year. After eight years of losses, the airline posted a net profit of WST11 million (USD4.1 million) for the year ended June 30, 2025. Its debt decreased from WST80 million (USD29.9 million) to WST10 million (USD3.7 million), largely thanks to two government handouts: a write-off of a WST55 million (USD20.5 million) loan from the Unit Trust of Samoa and WST11 million (USD4.1 million) in direct aid to repay old debts.

Besides the route connecting Samoa and American Samoa, the airline also operates within American Samoa, connecting Pago Pago with Fitiuta and Ofu in the Manu'a Islands. Samoa Airways is currently authorised to operate this eighth-freedom cabotage route through January 2026, or until a US-domiciled carrier decides to enter the market.

CH Aviation / Photo: Samoa 

SOMON AIR - B737 MAX 8 - N1780B - 07/08/2020

Brian Worthington

Samoa Airways to upgauge fleet ahead of Pacific Games

Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Fagali'i) will revise and upgauge its fleet ahead of the Pacific Games which are due to be held in Samoa between July 7 and 20.

According to the Samoa Observer, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi said in his weekly address that the state-owned carrier would switch out the B737-800 it currently wet-leases from Neos through Icelandair for a larger gauge aircraft.

“Also in March 2019, the current airplane will be replaced with a bigger aircraft,” he said.

A second unspecified aircraft will also arrive in June ahead of the Pacific Games in July, Malielegaoi added.

Samoa Airways also operates three DHC-6-300s inherited from its Polynesian Airlines (OL, Apia Fagali'i) predecessor. It currently offers regular passenger flights from Apia Faleolo to Auckland Int'l, Brisbane Int'l, and Sydney Kingsford Smith with the Neos B737-800 as well as from Apia Fagali'i to Pago Pago and domestically within American Samoa with its Twin Otters.

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Samoa Airways eyes own jets to replace Neos ACMI

Samoa Airways is planning to add new dry-leased narrowbody aircraft to replace its sole B737-800 currently wet-leased from Italy's Neos.

Samoa gov't denies blocking ANZ to aid Samoa Airways

The government of Samoa strongly denied it is interfering with Air New Zealand operations to the country in order to aid the local flag carrier, Samoa Airways , the Sunday Samoan reported on January 27.

"The government does not get involved in the operation of Air New Zealand. We have nothing to do with that," the Minister of Public Enterprises Lautafi Fio Purcell said, underlying that the government is not trying to exercise pressure on the New Zealandic carrier to use only narrowbody A320 aircraft on the route instead of larger B777-200(ER)s. His comments were seconded by the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
Samoan MP La’auliolemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt had earlier commanded the government for the decision to relaunch Samoa Airways and urged the Samoans to fly on the local carrier rather than on Air New Zealand. He had also complained that following the launch of Samoa Airways, the New Zealandic competitor lowered fares, threatening the viability of the Samoan flag carrier.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Samoa Airways operates 7x weekly between Apia Faleolo and Auckland Int'l with the company's sole jet aircraft, a B737-800 wet-leased from Neos (NO, Milan Malpensa). For its part, Air New Zealand serves this route 8x weekly using both A320 and B777-200(ER) jets. Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane Int'l) was denied traffic rights on this route by the Samoan government in 2017.
Samoa Airways launched operations in October 2017. Besides the jet services to Auckland and Sydney Kingsford Smith, the state-owned carrier also took over regional flights from Polynesian Airlines, operated with a fleet of three DHC-6-300s.

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Samoa Airways has commenced operations this week, relaunching flights from Apia (APW) to Auckland (AKL) and Sydney (SYD) on 14 and 16 November respectively

Formerly known as Polynesian Airlines, the airline was founded in 1959 and had previously operated flights to both of the restarted destinations as well as Wellington, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Nadi, Rarotonga, Papeete, Tongatapu, Niue and Pago Pago. Polynesian’s operation was downsized in 2005 and has been operating intra-island and charter flights for the last 12 years. The 4,324-kilometre, twice-weekly (Thursdays and Saturdays) route to Australia will face direct competition from Virgin Australia Airlines (twice-weekly), while the six times weekly New Zealand sector will encounter market opposition from Air New Zealand (daily). Both services are flown by Samoa Airways’ 186-seat 737-800.
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