There was a hive of activity at the Faleolo International Airport on Monday afternoon as the nation welcomed passengers on the first commercial flight into Samoa after two and a half years. 

A total of 179 passengers who disembarked from a Fiji Airways were treated like celebrities upon their arrival and were beaming with delight, not only from the grand welcome ceremony organised by the Samoa Tourism Authority, but also upon Samoans reuniting with their loved ones after over three years. 

The welcoming ceremony on Monday afternoon was organised by the Samoa Government through the S.T.A. as part of its #Beautifulisback campaign. 

The guests were greeted with beautiful Samoan smiles and given gift bags and fresh floral leis from an S.T.A. team who were all attired in "Beautiful Samoa" t-shirts and traditional Samoan costumes. 

The passengers were first greeted by the Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A.) dance group who put up cultural performances upon their arrival. 

As they made their way out to see their families, they were also welcomed by more cultural performances by the Sinalei Dance Group with all their families and friends lined up to greet them.

Hundreds of people crowded the Faleolo airport on Monday evening with families coming from as far as Safune in Savai'i to welcome their relatives whom they have not seen for over three years. 

This newspaper understands that the passengers came from different parts of the world including the United States, Australia and the U.K. who transited through Nadi before getting on the Fiji Airways flight to Samoa. 

There were mixed emotions and scenes at the airport with some family members finally meeting their loved ones after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shut down of international travel since March 2020. 

One of the arriving passengers Susana Ah Foon, who currently resides with her children in Australia, got emotional holding onto her father after three long years. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, she said she was happy and grateful to finally make it back home to see her dad whom she had not seen for a long time. She was on the same flight with her sister and her partner who came from the United States. 

Ane and John English said they were ecstatic to be back in Samoa. When asked what they thought of the welcome ceremony at the airport, Mrs. English said they were amazed.

"It's such a great and amazing experience," Mrs. John told this newspaper. "We feel so welcomed. 

"I mean on the hand we are excited that we are finally here after such a long time, but to be welcomed by our people in this manner, it's amazing and we are just so happy."

But the years of travel shut downs globally also meant missing important family events, such as the passing of their mother, which Mrs. John and Mrs. Ah Foon regretted. 

Fighting to hold back tears, they said they wanted to come home for their mother's funeral, but could not travel back due to the travel ban and closure of the borders. However, they said they are still grateful that they were greeted by their father at the airport. 

Also on the flight on Monday were two Samoan students who studied at the University of the South Pacific (U.S.P.) Laucala Campus in Fiji. 

They were over the moon to be finally home after being away and stuck in Fiji for more than three years.

The S.T.A. team will also welcome passengers arriving on Tuesday on Air New Zealand, Qantas, Talofa Airways and Samoa Airways.