Air New Zealand will no longer accept passengers using the new $11 million tala VIP Terminal unless they are royals, prime ministers, heads of state, foreign ministers, or their accompanying spouses.

The decision follows an alleged security breach last Thursday involving four passengers, including Speaker of the House Papali’i Lio Oloipola Taeu Masipau and Minister of Justice Matamua Seumanu Vasati Sili Pulufana, who reportedly bypassed security screening before boarding flight NZ993 to Auckland.

In a directive, Air New Zealand Samoa country manager Samantha Imo-Munif questioned how the four passengers avoided security screening and why the airline was not informed in advance. 

“I would like to know how the Speaker of the House, the Minister of Justice, and the two other passengers involved believed they were exempt from the screening,” the directive read.

The airline also raised concerns about the absence of an exemption request, which would have triggered a verification process. 

Air New Zealand confirmed that use of the VIP terminal has not been approved for passengers other than those exempted under Cabinet Directive FK(14)48. 

All other passengers are required to undergo security screening at the main terminal, regardless of terminal usage.

The directive further stated that passengers who further delay or affect a flight’s departure could face offloading from their flight.

New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA/AvSec), which assisted in installing the security screening equipment at Faleolo, declined to confirm whether the alleged breach was mechanical. 

“We can’t speculate or comment about what might have led to the breach in Samoa,” a CAA/AvSec spokesperson said.

According to Civil Aviation Rules Part 108.55(b)(12), all passengers must undergo security screening before boarding to prevent weapons, explosives, or other dangerous items from being brought onto a flight.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai, on whether the four passengers were screened have been unsuccessful, with phone calls and emails going unanswered. 

Attempts to reach Imo-Munif directly were also redirected to Air New Zealand’s head of communications.

Air New Zealand remains the most frequented international airline operating at Faleolo International Airport.

* Jarrett Malifa contributed this article.