The interim Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of the Samoa Airways airline, Fauoo Fatu Tielu has assured that there have been no lapses since the resumption of flights to Pago Pago in American Samoa from the Fagalii Airport.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Fauo'o clarified that Samoa Airways' flights are normally fully booked.

The C.E.O was queried about speculations by members of the public that more people are taking the boat to American Samoa now since the resumption of flights at Fagalii Airport because of issues such as airfare increase, service, and delays.

"Our flights were and are normally fully booked and in fact the rest of July was fully booked and operations have been flowing well according to plan," he said.

"I don't know how many people are taking the boat to American Samoa but I can assure that the flights are operating well since the reopening as well as our usual services."

There are normally five flights per day to the American territory and back but according to Fauo'o, when the demand is high on both directions, extra flights can be added to cater.

However, if the high demand comes from only one direction, then the passengers can charter their own flights if needed as there will be no extra flights.

For the airfare issue which passengers speculated have increased, the C.E.O clarified in June this year that their airfares for the Apia–Pago Pago sector have not increased, though the addition of departure tax means the ticket's price has gone up. 

He explained that the increase in the airfares to the U.S. territory is due to the addition of departure tax, which was normally paid to the Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A.) but has now been passed onto Samoa Airways for convenience.

"The prices of our airfares never increased," Fauo'o said. "It must be the addition of the tax to the ticket that made them think it's an increase but that's the tax which passengers normally pay to the Samoa Airport Authority.

On the cargo issue, Fauo'o on Saturday denied reports that the airline is refusing passengers taking cargo to Pago Pago in American Samoa  following a concern raised by a passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity to this newspaper, and claimed that her cargo could not be flown to the U.S. territory as there is a ban. 

The C.E.O contacted the Samoa Observer on Sunday and clarified again that he reached out to his staff operating the Fagalii flights and confirmed that they did not hold back any cargo last week.

"I've contacted  my team in Fagalii and they said they did not hold any cargo so far unless it's the screening which is being handled by the S.A.(A Samoa Airport Authority) but not us," he said.