Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi has confirmed the South Pacific island state has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi).

According to Radio New Zealand, Malielegaoi confirmed that as part of the arrangement, Polynesian Airlines (Apia Fagali'i) will be renamed as Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Faleolo).

As previously reported, the partnership with the Fijians will follow the expiration of that with Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) wherein Virgin Samoa (Apia Faleolo) will be wound up at year-end.

Once Samoa Airways is operational, it will begin flights between Samoa, New Zealand and Australia using B737-800 equipment Fiji Airways will assist it in acquiring.