By Staff Writer
Samoa Airways is definitely not getting their leased aircraft and it has nothing to do with safety reservations Government has been saying all along.
Poor management in need of being ‘washed inside out’ is now taking the brunt of the blame from what the Minister of Finance said last week in Parliament.
There is also a determined Government resolve for the national carrier to run as any other normal business able to stand alone and earn a profit.
No more having to rely on taxpayers money to keep it running.
“Cabinet has decided and there will be no aircraft,” the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa declared in a firm, end of argument tone, at the final session of Parliament on Tuesday night.
The lease of a B737 aircraft from an Ireland based company was approved by the previous Government of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
It was held up in Australia for a safety check while already on its way to Samoa for the national carrier to revive its main international routes to New Zealand and Australia.
The new Government decision to return the aircraft has left it under threat of breach of contract with the leasing company that may turn very costly for Samoa.
The previous HRPP party Government’s belief in the greater benefits to the economy for Samoa Airways running an international service was supported with the approval of a loan from the UTOS investment fund.
The funding to cover the costs of the aircraft lease and re-organisation of the airline company management is rejected by the new Government.
PM Fiame prefers the national airline to consider partnerships with outside airline companies to provide international travel for Samoa.
The option has been tried on numerous occasions in the past but has never lasted.
Samoa Airways is reduced to running the domestic service with a twin otter aircraft on flights mainly between the two Samoas.
The Government is keen to see the airline run at a profit as it has done in the past by operating smaller aircrafts for inter-island travel that included flights between the main islands of Upolu and Savaii.
Restricting the direct running of the airline company to the domestic flight routes is certain to be closely watched by the opposition party who argued for the bigger influence of the operations on the national economy.
The opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, believed the benefits to the national economy is more than enough to compensate for the Samoan Airways not earning a profit.
Tourism is the second income earner for Samoa and the airline company is felt to be the main key to encouraging more outside visitors to travel into the country to enjoy a holiday visit.
The ripple effect of the tourist spending translates into benefits on a much wider reach for the national economy.