Fagali'i

Fagali'i or Fagali'i-uta is a village on the island of Upolu in the Samoa archipelago approximately 5 kilometres south-east of Apia. It is in the electoral constituency of Vaimauga East (faipule district) which forms part of the larger political district of Tuamasaga.

The population of Fagali'i is 1,571 (2006 Census).[1]

The former Apia-Fagali'i Airport site and the Royal Samoa Golf Course are both located nearby.

Airport

Fagali'i Airport
IATA: FGI – ICAO: NSFI
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Samoa Airport Authority
Serves Apia
Location Fagali'i-Uta
Coordinates 13°50′54″S 171°44′30″W / 13.84833°S 171.74167°WCoordinates: 13°50′54″S 171°44′30″W / 13.84833°S 171.74167°W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
10/28 670 2,198 Asphalt
Royal Samoa Golf Course and Fagali'i Airport.1

Fagali'i Airport was previously owned and operated by Polynesian Airlines and the Samoa Government. Fagali'i airstrip - at one time a grass-only airstrip, was reopened on the 6th of July 2002 after the airstrip was re-sealed,[2] only to be de-commissioned in Jan 2005 due to Government and village concerns, allegedly due to safety and noise.

Rumours have since re-surfaced within the aviation community regarding the possibility of having the airstrip re-opened as the country's flag carrier has since downsized to 2 Turboprop DHC 6 Twin Otter aircraft and single BN2 Britten-Norman Islander. Speculation about reviving the domestic inter-island service to Maota and possibility of re-stimulating regional travel brings hope to the nation's carrier now competing with Inter Island Airways who is operating Dornier 228 and Shorts 360 Regional Turbo Prop aircraft on the same route.

The proposal to re-open the airport was controversial and attracted criticism both for the safety and environmental issues with the airport's configuration and for the potential burden on local communities should the scheme fail.[3]

Airlines that have operated from the airport include:

On 1 July 2009, Polynesian Airlines reopened Fagali'i airport and resumed a service that included international flights to Pago Pago, American Samoa.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Population and Housing Census Report 2006" (PDF). Samoa Bureau of Statistics. July 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Polynesian Whispers 2002
  3. ↑ Samoa Observer 23 November 2008
  4. ↑ Sagapolutele, Fili. "Polynesian to resume flying into Fagali’i airport this week". Samoa News. SamoaNews.com. Retrieved 11 June 2011.