Talofa Airways

Talofa Airways is a Samoan airline that offers flights within the Polynesian region. It started operations in August 2016 using two Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander aircraft. As of September 2016, the airline serves three destinations in the region. Talofa Airways is the third airline based in Samoa, after Samoa Air and Polynesian Airlines.

Talofa Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
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Commenced operations29 August 2016
Operating basesFaleolo International Airport (Apia)
Fleet size2
Destinations3
HeadquartersApia, Samoa
Key peopleToleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, CEO
Taua Fatu Tielu, CFO
Websitewww.talofaairways.com

History

Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, the founder of Talofa Airways, first had plans to set up an airline business in the region in 1996, when he decided to remain in Samoa rather than return to the United States.[1][2] After opening a pharmacy in Apia in 2002, Hunter began to invest towards establishing Talofa Airways,[2] which would provide more convenient air travel between Samoa, American Samoa and other islands in Polynesia.[3] He selected the Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander in a nine-seat configuration for the airline's fleet.[3] In order to avoid the high costs of transporting the aircraft to Samoa, Hunter flew the aircraft from Florida himself.[2]

On 22 August 2016, the airline held an inauguration ceremony at Apia's Fagali'i Airport with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi in attendance.[1] Talofa Airways began operations on 29 August 2016,[4] becoming the third airline based in Samoa after Polynesian Airlines and Samoa Air.[5]

Corporate affairs

The airline takes its name from the traditional Samoan greeting Talofa, signifying Talofa Airways' Samoan roots.[2] It is headquartered in Taufusi, Apia.[6] Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter serves as the chairman and chief executive officer, and former Polynesian Airlines CEO Taua Fatu Tielu is the chief financial officer.[7] Hunter, Tielu and their respective wives are all shareholders in the airline.[2]

Destinations

As of September 2016, Talofa Airways flies to the following destinations:

[8][9][10]

Country City Airport Notes
SamoaApiaFaleolo International AirportBase
United StatesPago PagoPago Pago International Airport—
TongaNuku'alofaFua'amotu International Airport—

Fleet
A Talofa Airways Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander at Fagali'i Airport, Apia

As of September 2016, Talofa Airways operates the following aircraft:[3]

Talofa Airways fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander 2 — 9 —
Total 2 0

Accidents and incidents
  • On 12 January 2017, a Talofa Airways Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander was involved in an accident after a normal landing at Pago Pago International Airport (American Samoa). There were nil reported injuries or fatalities.[11]
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References
  1. "New Airline for Samoa" (Press release). Government of Samoa. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. Tupufia, Lanuola (23 August 2016). "Dream realized with the launch of Talofa Airways". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  3. "When in Samoa, Fly With Talofa and its Twin Commanders". Flight Levels Online. 21 (3). 2016.
  4. "Samoa's Talofa Airways commences operations". ch-aviation. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  5. "Samoa Talofa Airways ready to take off after launch". Radio New Zealand. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  6. "Contact Us". Talofa Airways. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  7. "Talofa Airways launch realizes a vision of the owners". Talanei. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  8. "Talofa Airways will soon spread its wings". Talanei. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  9. "Talofa Airways". ch-aviation. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  10. "Talofa Airways begins direct flights to Tonga". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  11. "Landing scare for Talofa Airways plane". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 2018-01-13.

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