Cabinet issues order, lease cost a mystery
The Samoan government has put its foot down in a bid to help Samoa Airways cover its initial operation costs, which reportedly includes “US$500,000” (T$1.25million) a fortnight to lease the aircraft.
According to a Cabinet paper leaked to the Sunday Samoan, all government Ministries and Corporations have been instructed to use Samoa Airways for any flights to New Zealand and Australia funded by the government.
Signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo, the Cabinet paper also strictly instructs government officials to persuade sponsors and funders of other trips to book flights from and back to Samoa with Samoa Airways.
Attempts by the Sunday Samoan to confirm reports that the Airline is paying some “US$500,000” to lease the Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Icelandair Group were not successful.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi referred questions to the Management of the Airline.
“To get the exact amount down to the cents, direct your questions to the C.E.O. of Samoa Airways,” he said. “That shouldn’t be hard to do.”
The Prime Minister then asked as to why the Sunday Samoan was interested in the cost of the lease.
“Your questions appear to be looking for trouble,” he said. “However if you ask, then do a follow up question, what is the usual amount of such leases, that is how you do it. But don’t just ask about our lease.”
Questions emailed to the C.E.O., Seiuli Alvin Tuala, and Marketing Manager, Dwayne Bentley, on Thursday have not been responded to at press time. A printed copy of the questions was also dropped off at the office and received by the Airline.
On 08 November, Cabinet issued an order in a letter to all government bodies to use the airline. It was signed by Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Agafili Shem Leo and titled “utilise Samoa Airways for travel paid by the government”.
According to the F.K., the Cabinet meeting held on November 7, 2017 to discussed the matter and concluded that “effective for the month of November, 2017, any government trip going through to New Zealand and Australia, paid by the government, will travel on Samoa Airways”.
This order also applies to the trips being paid by grantors/sponsors, says the F.K.
The F.K. also instructs the hospital, relating to patients taken overseas for medical checkups, to travel on Samoa Airways when they go to New Zealand.
The F.K. further orders a faster process of purchasing tickets so the airline can get paid immediately. Samoa Airways is less than a month into its operations.