Samoa PM warns new airline about debt Featured
Maxine Gallagher Field, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Agamalu Westerlund and Jeffrey Karol Hunter
25 August, 2016. At the Talofa Airways launched this week, Samoa Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi suggested Talofa could learn from the mistakes of Polynesian Airlines.
He revealed some of the main reasons for past debt piled up by that airline including factors like employing five hundred people to work for only one jet aircraft.
Tuila'epa warned Talofa Airways not to consider church fundraising trips or church ministers asking for airfares to be paid later, saying they are not trustworthy when it comes to money.
He said some former MPs who had led fundraising trips overseas under the same method had also contributed to the country's previous airline debts.
The prime minister has challenged the management of Talofa Airways to see if they could beat Polynesian Airlines' profitable inter-island service.
American Samoan officials have welcomed the new airline at a separate launch in Pago Pago.
Lieutenant Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga said while it was a commercial venture, it was also a public service and one that is needed by American Samoa and Samoa.
He urged the owners to operate their airline according to family values and to treat each individual with kindness and respect.
The airline begins services next Tuesday and will start off with six daily flights.
Talofa Airways will operate two nine seater Twin Commander aircraft and also hopes to fly into Tonga later this year.
-RNZI
4 comments
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Aiai lelei oua e fiu he oku ikai ke tatau etau system ihe lao moe ako moeha fua a'u kihe tukufakaholo. Faifai pea ke takihala'i he fanau a Tupou mo Houeiki hhhhh iooo
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'oku fkfiefia ma'u pe, he lau he ng apstract news mei he Samoa Obsever. he 'oku tatau pe 'ae palopalema 'a Samoa mo Tonga ni,
Fkamu 'e hokohoko atu, ke 'omai 'ae Hardship ihe Rural areas 'o Samoa, he 'oku tatau tofu pe moe ng me'a 'oku hook 'I Tonga ni..... -
'Io ko e management koe mea mahuinga taha ia. SIo atu ki he folau vaka tahi he fonua ni hange ne kai ha pusi. Taimi ne lele ai e Uata Shipping lele lelei ala atu pe puleanga fakalele kautaha vaka namu kuma. Ko fe Royal Tongan Air namu kuma mo ia. Ikai pe ha mea ia siaa. Ko Tevita Palu eni ku ne polei kapau e fkmamao e Puleanga mei ai e moui ia. Lahi e mea ke fai ka ku mohe pe kau taki e fonua.
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kau eni he fakamatala maalie pea 'oku tonu ke lau eni e tevita palu mo ha kau toe 'ai vakapuna pe 'i tonga ni.