The first commercial flight into Samoa during the Coronavirus lockdown is an Air New Zealand flight that is scheduled for May 22.
In allowing the flight, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says he and his government are well aware of the consequences if it ends up bringing The COVID-19 virus into the country.
On his weekly Radio 2AP broadcast on Friday he said Samoa has first-hand experience of being affected by a deadly disease from international travel with a ship from NZ bringing the flu epidemic which devastated a third of the population in 1918.
Tuilaepa said the first flight by Air New Zealand will carry 450 passengers but there are more than 900 wanting to travel to Samoa.
He said the special flight is for residents with paid return tickets to Samoa and those whose permits to New Zealand have expired.
Because of the delicate safety situation all passengers will be required to have been tested for COVID-19 in New Zealand three days before departure.
A 14 day mandatory quarantine period awaits all 450 passengers upon arrival at Faleolo International Airport.
Tuilaepa said that there will be other flights for those wanting to return from New Zealand but an announcement would be made later.
He advised passengers who hold return tickets on other airlines like Samoa Airways and Fiji Airways to make their own arrangements to transfer tickets to Air New Zealand or else buy new tickets.
He also said Samoa Airways will take delivery of a replacement plane at the end of June.
