Samoa Gov’t flags tapping everyday investors to fund jet ops

By Andrew Curran.

The Government of Samoa is flagging the possibility of asking everyday investors to back its proposed resumption of Samoa Airways jet services, despite previous forays into jet operations proving financially disastrous.

On November 2, 2026, the Government released a survey to assess investor interest among the country’s diaspora community.

“The survey is intended to assess potential interest among the Samoan diaspora in a possible retail investment opportunity connected with the proposed relaunch of jet services between Samoa, Australia and New Zealand by Polynesian Limited (Samoan company number 0354), trading as Samoa Airways,” the Government’s media statement reads.

As previously reported by Aero South Pacific, Samoa Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt is keen for the country’s state-owned carrier to return to jet operations.

Currently, Samoa Airways operates a pair of DHC-6-300 Twin Otters between Samoa and American Samoa, some inter-island flights within American Samoa, and a recently launched domestic route between Apia Fagali‘i (FGI) and Maota (MXS).

Samoa Airways CEO Fauo’o Fatu Tielu has previously cautioned against a return to jet services. The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and the Asian Development Bank have also suggested it would be a bad idea. However, early last month, the Government of Samoa advertised for a new Samoa Airways CEO, CFO and CCO who would be “capable of transitioning the carrier to jet operations”.

Dismal track record no deterrent to resuming Samoa Airways jet operations

The Samoan Government last dipped its toes into jet operations earlier this decade, leasing a B737-800 from Carlyle Aviation Partners on behalf of Samoa Airways in 2021. This followed several years of wet-leasing aircraft and, before that, a joint venture with Virgin Australia called Pacific Blue, which the Government of Samoa ended in 2017, citing high operating costs and an overall disappointing performance.

The Carlyle aircraft was to be Samoa Airways’ first dry-leased jet. However, a general election in 2021 saw a new government elected, and the incoming administration was less enthusiastic about the aircraft than its predecessor. The B737 spent an extended period parked at Brisbane Airport (BNE) while the new administration and Carlyle wrangled over the lease. Ultimately, Samoan taxpayers paid the lessor a USD59 million lease breach penalty, and the aircraft was re-housed.

The government of the day vowed to avoid jet operations for the foreseeable future, preferring to rely on foreign carriers and partnerships to keep Samoa connected. However, administrations come and go in Apia, and in 2025, Schmidt’s Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party won a general election.

“We are ready to do it again,” the freshly installed Prime Minister said late last year about resuming jet services.

Survey gauges potential investor interest, but no offer on table yet

This week’s survey asks respondents whether, if Samoa Airways offered jet flights for booking, they would choose the airline or another carrier. It also asks whether they would be prepared to participate in a regulated retail investment opportunity and, if so, how much they would invest and for what period. The survey also collects personal contact information.

The Government notes that the survey is being conducted for market research purposes only and that no investment opportunity is currently available.

Despite Samoa Airways’ chequered track record in jet operations, Schmidt says the planned jet service will be run with strict safeguards to ensure long-term profitability. He says the handful of airlines currently serving Samoa charge “ridiculously high” airfares and that having a home-grown jet operator would improve connectivity, facilitate more tourism and be a matter of national pride.

The survey closes on December 24, 2026.

Photo: AI-Generated
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com