The Samoa Government is in discussions with the Vanuatu Government to lease the discarded Samoa Airways Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Samoa Observer reports Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa confirmed on Monday that there have been an exchange of letters and her government is happy with the offer from Vanuatu.
“But we still have to resolve the issue between ourselves and the lessor.”
The Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi government decided soon after taking office that the lease agreement on the aircraft was unsustainable.
A special Cabinet committee headed by the Minister for Private Enterprises Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo, recommended immediate curtailment of the lease with an airline company in Ireland.
He said it would cost the government $180million tālā for breach of contract if the lease was cancelled.
Opposition leader Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said earlier this year the decision had failed to consider the wider benefits for the airline and the country.
The Minister for Civil Aviation, Olo Fiti Va’ai told Parliament that the Vanuatu based regional Pacific Aviation Safety Office recommended against issuing an airworthiness certificate for the Samoa Airways plane.
He said PASO could not continue with technical checks because Samoa Airways could not provide information that was needed to complete the checks.
