Talofa Airways (Apia Faleolo) is set to begin regular flights to neighbouring American Samoa after the US Department of Transportation (DOT) granted it exemption authority. Its application for a Foreign Air Carriers Permit has been tentatively approved with its issuance, barring any objections, set for early next month.

Once the latter has been granted, Talofa Airways will be free to operate scheduled and charter flights ferrying persons, property and mail from points behind Samoa via Samoa and intermediate points, to a point or points in the United States and beyond. Additionally, it will also be able to offer scheduled and charter foreign all-cargo flights between a point or points in the United States and any other point or points.

Using a pair of Aero Design and Engineering Company Turbo Commander 690Bs, Talofa Airways plans to operate multiple-daily return passenger flights from Apia Faleolo to Pago Pago in American Samoa alongside bi-weekly cargo-only flights between the two cities.

In addition, the start-up also plans to operate a 3x weekly Apia Faleolo to Pago Pago service via either Vava'u or Tongatapu in Tonga, and up to two scheduled all-cargo round-trip flights per week between Pago Pago, on the one hand , and Vava'u and Tongatapu, on the other hand.

Aside from American Samoa and Tonga, Talofa Airways is also licensed to serve Niue and Wallis Island.

The carrier secured its AOC from the Civil Aviation Division of the Samoan Ministry for Works, Transport and Infrastructure in March.