Samoa Airways Sends Second Twin Otter to Canada for Overhaul

By Andrew Curran

Samoa Airways expects one of its three DHC-6-300 Twin Otters to be out of service until February 2026 after it ferries to Canada for a refurbishment. It is the second of the three Twin Otters sent to North America for an overhaul.

5W-FAY (msn 690) departed for Airdrie Airport in Alberta, Canada, on September 28, 2025. At the time of writing, the aircraft had left Cassidy Airport (CXI), on Kiritimati’s Christmas Island after a six hour-plus flight there from Apia on the weekend. The aircraft will also stop at Hilo (ITO) in Hawaii and Santa Maria (SMX) in California en-route to the refurbishment facility.

The refurbishment program, undertaken by Unity Aviation Canada, involves an engine overhaul, repainting, and a cabin refurbishment. Samoa Airways anticipates spending around USD3.7 million on the project. The state-owned carrier will bear the bulk of the cost, with the Unit Trust of Samoa prepared to step in with financial support if required. At this stage, Samoa Airways does not expect 5W-FAY to return to service until February.

Earlier this year, Unity Aviation successfully completed an overhaul of the first Twin Otter, 5W-FAW (msn 827). The three Samoa Airways Twin Otters are variously aged 40.1 years (5W-FAW); 45.4 years (5W-FAY) and 51.7 years (5W-STF). The aircraft link Apia's Fagali'i Airport (FGI) with Pago Pago (PPG) in neighbouring American Samoa. They also connect Pago Pago with Fitiuta (FTI) and Ofu (OFU), both in American Samoa.

The Samoa Observer reports that the retrofit is part of a broader strategy to modernise the airline's fleet, improve efficiency, and improve the travel experience.

“This marks another key step in our fleet enhancement program,” Samoa Airways CEO Fauoo Taua Fatu Tielu told the newspaper.

“We remain focused on building a stronger, more efficient airline that meets international standards and reflects the needs of the Samoan people. The upgrade of our aircraft ensures we continue providing safe, reliable, and comfortable service for our passengers.

The refurbishments follow Samoa Airways posting a surprise USD4.1 million profit for the 12 months to June 30, 2025, ending eight consecutive years of losses. Much of that improvement was due to the Samoan Government writing off approximately USD20 million in loans made to Samoa Airways. It also provided another USD4 million to pay off other debts.

Meanwhile, Samoa Airways has started talks with Fiji Airways about a deepened partnership and code-share arrangements.

This has reportedly stemmed from meetings with Fijian officials and Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, and Minister of Samoa Airways, Lautafi Fio Purcell, at the Pacific Island Leaders’ Summit in Fiji earlier this month.

“Discussions have taken place between Samoa Airways and Fiji Airways executives on partnership and code-share arrangements,” a Fiji Airways statement reads.

“However, the matter of flights between Fiji and Samoa concerns the existing air services agreement between the two countries. As such, Fiji Airways has referred the matter to the Fijian Government for their attention.”

Samoa Airways currently has some limited code-shares with Fiji Airways, primarily focused on the Nadi (NAN) – Apia (APW) city pair, now solely serviced by Fiji Airways. Samoa Airways formerly operated flights to Australia and New Zealand using a wet-leased B737-800 but axed those services earlier this decade. A subsequent 2021 decision to dry-lease a B737-800 proved financially disastrous for the tiny carrier. The aircraft never made it to Apia and ultimately cost the Samoan taxpayers USD4.6 million in lease break fees.

Since then, Samoa Airways has stuck to its aging but reliable Twin Otters and relied on partnerships with other carriers for flights beyond the immediate neighbourhood.

Photo: AI Generated.