The Civil Aviation Division within Samoa's Ministry of Transport has received an application from an airline based in Haikou, Hainan in the People's Republic of China.

The application by Hainan Airline is for a certificate to continue direct flights to and from China to Samoa. The application for a certificate, which is known as the Foreign Air Operating Certificate was confirmed by the Minister for Works, Transport, and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Va'ai in Parliament on Friday.

His confirmation was part of the Government's responses to concerns raised during deliberations on the 2023/2024 Budget that was passed by the Legislative Assembly on Friday. 

Speaking in Parliament, Olo said the Hainan Airlines Co. Ltd has applied for a license to operate commercial flights to and from China. The airline is rated as a 5-star airline by Skytrax and has 10 aircraft, according to the Minister. 

Currently, Samoa's Civil Aviation Division within the Ministry is undertaking an assessment as per the normal process before the issuing of licenses for international airlines. 

Olo further added that the prolonged assessment currently underway is to ensure that the airline and its aircraft meet international standards. The Vanuatu-based Pacific Safety Office (P.A.S.O.) is also part of the assessment before the certificate is issued. 

The Minister said that the positive side of having nine to 10 aircraft is that there's a certainty that if the airline does start operating commercial flights to and from Samoa, there will be no problem if one aircraft needs repairments. 

All aircraft, according to Olo, that operate these flights to Samoa will generate more income for the Samoa Airport Authority. 

The Hainan Airline was used by a Hong Kong-based travel company called Travel Focus which brought in over 500 Chinese tourists in the span of two weeks in Samoa in late May and early June this year.  

The direct chartered flights were halted by the Government of Samoa after it was discovered that they did not comply with civil aviation regulations for long-haul charter flights. Chartered flights are limited to two flights every 28 days a month.