Locally-owned airline Talofa Airways celebrated a milestone on Wednesday with the arrival of its fourth aircraft since its establishment in August 2016.

The addition of the new Aero Commander aircraft will add more seats to their Apia–Pago Pago service and also coincides with the company's decision to recommence its Apia–Nuku'alofa service.

Chairman and Chief Executive of Talofa Airways, Toleafoa Captain Jeffrey Hunter said the arrival of their new aircraft will improve their service to travellers commuting between Samoa and American Samoa. 

In an interview with this newspaper, he also confirmed that with the addition of the new aircraft, they will resume servicing the Apia–Nuku'alofa route starting next month. 

He said the local airline is also considering operating direct flights from Samoa to the French territory of Wallis and Futuna sometime next year. 

Explaining that the new aircraft was purchased by Talofa Airways in 2019, Toleafoa said some work needed to be done before the plane's arrival in Samoa, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the work. 

"There was some work needed to be done to the aircraft before we could bring it to Samoa before COVID," Toleafoa said. "However, COVID hit and it delayed its arrival and the work that needed to be done to the plane. 

"We waited until our international borders were declared open again after more than two years then we began to finalise all the requirements for the plane to be brought to Samoa."

According to Toleafoa, the plane was in Oklahoma in the United States then it was flown to California before getting ferried to Hawai'i. He travelled to Hawai'i to fly the aircraft to Samoa. 

From Hawai'i, the plane made a stopover in Kiribati before it flew to Samoa on Wednesday evening. 

"Only three (including the new aircraft) are operational since one of our aircraft has been out of service since 2018," he said. 

Toleafoa said they are happy to finally have the new aircraft to help with their service, as they no longer have to worry about possible flight disruptions if one of the aircraft has any problems and needs to be serviced. 

"We needed this third aircraft to rule out any possibility of having flight disruptions because it affects not only our schedule but also it can have an impact on our travelling public. 

"So it's good to have an additional aircraft to assist with the backlog of people wanting to travel between Samoa and the territory without having to worry about any disruptions in schedule. 

We've had only two planes in operations that were working every day, except for Sunday and we barely had time to service it on a daily basis. 

"We need two planes to cover our schedule every day, and we are now happy to have a third one to be on standby in case one aircraft has any problems. 

"With this aircraft, we will not worry about any disruptions and it will ensure that our schedule flows and continues and is convenient for our customers."

The new Aero Commander is an addition to the local airline's Twin Commander 690B fleet, a pressurized high-wing twin turboprop with a rugged design with plenty of power.