Residents of Fagalii will have to get used to the sound of aeroplanes zooming in out of the Fagalii Airport as the Samoa Airports Authority anticipate the first flight to start next Tuesday.

General Manager of the Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A.), Silimanai Ueta Solomona has confirmed that the flights will be operational by then as the Certificate of the Aerodrome has been awarded.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Silimana'i said they received the Certificate of Aerodrome last Saturday and the Samoa Airways confirmed that the flights will be operational next week.

"Samoa Airways has confirmed that flights will start next Tuesday and we received the Certificate last week Saturday," he said.

The Samoa Airways' interim Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.), Fauo'o Fatu Tielu also confirmed to this newspaper that the flights will start operating from next Tuesday on the normal schedule of five flights per day.

"Yes, starting next week Tuesday the flights will start operating on the normal schedule that is five flights per day or maybe more if busy except for Sunday where there will be only three flights between Samoa and Pago Pago," he said.

The airline was waiting on the S.A.A to provide the Certificate of aerodrome when asked about when the flights will be operational for the Fagalii airport.

Fauoo in previous interviews stressed that it was the last requirement before their flights can commence.

"We had the meeting but we are still waiting on the authority to provide the certificate of the aerodrome and that's the last part we're waiting on then we'll operate the flights as soon as possible," said Fauo'o. 

"All flights are ready to fly from our side, but just that one part we need them to complete then we're set to go."

A report from the authority including the Certificate of Aerodrome, that Samoa Airways expects highlights safety requirements for the use of the runway as well as the safe operation of flights between American Samoa and Samoa. 

Fauo'o at the time said that they were expecting answers from the S.A.A. regarding the issues that the airline had raised with them.

Aviation officials, speaking to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity, said that there will be no passenger operations for the Fagalii Airport until the national airline's requirements are satisfied and the airport work is completed.

Last month, the former prime minister and veteran politician, Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, claimed Fagalii Airport was "too short and dangerous" and not suitable for small planes.  

"It was closed a few years ago following technical reports that the airport was too short, dangerous and unsuitable for the more modern small planes with greater speed capacity," the veteran politician said. "Even our small airport at Maota in Savaii is longer!

However, the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai on Monday last week refuted the claims of the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) leader saying that the airport is operationally safe.  

He said Fagalii Airport has met all safety requirements and is ready for operation and assured the public that the airport is safe to operate.

“Prior to its reopening, the MWTI [Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure] and S.A.A. worked hand in hand in the first phase of rehabilitation to ensure we have implemented all the necessary safety measures and they will continue to do so to ensure the aerodrome achieves the highest standard of safety for both airlines and the people who will be coming through Fagalii," Olo said.