The New Zealand government is providing a container loading machine to address ground handling equipment issues at the Faleolo International Airport. 

Samoa Airways currently provides ground handling services for Air New Zealand and Fiji Airways, but there have been ongoing issues with faulty container loading systems due to aging equipment. 

In particular, the widebody aircraft belonging to Air NZ has been facing problems with its cargo when the hydraulic system for the container loader became faulty and forced the flight to leave without its cargo. 

The Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinuu Wayne So’oialo confirmed the New Zealand government is assisting by providing the FMC machinery for container loaders from Wellington. 

Leatinuu, who is also responsible for the national airline, said there were plans to have the machine flown to Samoa through an American C17 aircraft but these have been cancelled with the machine now being shipped over. 

“The machine is a gift from the New Zealand government and is estimated to arrive on 15^th November,”  he said in an interview. “Samoa Airways will be operating the machine at the airport.

"New Zealand has also advised that there is no restriction to use the machine just for Air New Zealand meaning we can use it for other airlines that need the container loader.”

The Minister said the machinery is on its way to Samoa and the national carrier will be responsible for the costs of handling the machine. 

A proposal has been put forth to Cabinet to waive freight costs for the machine because it is a gift to Samoa and will be returned once the container loading machine from Spain arrives, he added. 

Furthermore, Leatinuu said the two machines at the airport are working again and so far there haven’t been any problems.   

Just last month a flight bound for New Zealand from Apia had to leave some of its cargo behind because the airport’s container loader system encountered some problems. 

The interim Chief Executive Officer for Samoa Airways, Fauo’o Fatu Tielu said there had been a four-month delay by the supplier of the refurbished container loading equipment who is based in Spain.

“According to the supplier the company that supplies spare parts has relocated to the U.S. causing the delay,” he said.   

The C.E.O. pointed out the European company was chosen because it had promised to deliver the equipment by July but that was not the case. 

The container loading machine from Spain is likely to arrive sometime early next year.