Polynesian Airlines

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Polynesian Airlines
IATA
PH		 ICAO
PAO		 Callsign
POLYNESIAN
Founded 1959
Hubs Faleolo International Airport, Apia
Fleet size 4
Destinations 5
Parent company Government of Samoa
Company slogan Airline of Samoa
Headquarters Apia, Samoa
Key people Taua Fatu Tielu (CEO)
Website: http://www.polynesianairlines.com

Polynesian Airlines is the national airline of Samoa and is based in Apia, the Samoan capital city. Previously Polynesian airlines flew all over the Pacific but with the establishment of Polynesian Blue by the government and Virgin Blue, Polynesian Airlines has restricted itself to smaller flights to neighbouring islands.[citation needed] Its main base is Faleolo International Airport, Apia.[1]

Contents

[edit] Code Data

[edit] History

The airline was established in 1959 and started operations in August 1959 with services between Apia and Pago Pago using a Percival Prince aircraft. The government of Western Samoa acquired a controlling interest in 1971. Ansett Airlines of Australia signed a five year management contract in 1982 with the government to run the airline. This was extended for a further ten years in 1987. In February 1995 a commercial alliance with Air New Zealand was signed to develop marketing, sales and operational relationships. Jet operations have been taken over by Polynesian Blue. The airline is wholly owned by the Government of Western Samoa and has a 49% holding in Polynesian Blue.[1]

[edit] Destinations

The airline offers regional services from its hub in Apia. These include to Pago Pago in American Samoa, Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga and Niue. Polynesian Airlines also continues to operate domestically within Samoa and on code-share to and from Nadi in Fiji [3].

[edit] Pre-2005

Polynesian Airlines previously serviced the following international destinations: Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Papeete in French Polynesia and Honolulu and Los Angeles in the United States on a code share basis with Air New Zealand and in its own right with leased 767's- an operation that bankrupted the airline.[4].

[edit] Fleet

The Polynesian Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft at (at March 2007)[1] :

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-10, p. 65. 
  2. ^ Airline Codes November 2006
  3. ^ Polynesian Airlines July 2007
  4. ^ Polynesian Airlines July 2007
v • d • e
Lists relating to aviation
General
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records