Polynesian Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline = Polynesian Airlines
|
logo_size =
fleet_size = 4
| destinations = 5 |
IATA = PH |
ICAO = PAO |
callsign = POLYNESIAN |
parent = Government of Samoa |
company_slogan = Airline of Samoa |
founded = 1959 |
headquarters = Apia, Samoa
| key_people = Taua Fatu Tielu (CEO)
| hubs = Faleolo International Airport, Apia
| secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
subsidiaries =
website = http://www.polynesianairlines.com

Polynesian Airlines is the national airline of Samoa and is based in Apia, the Samoan capital city. Previously Polynesian airlines flew all over the Pacific but with the establishment of Polynesian Blue by the government and Virgin Blue, Polynesian Airlines has restricted itself to smaller flights to neighbouring islands. Fact|date=July 2007 Its main base is Faleolo International Airport, Apia.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 65 | date= 2007-04-10]

Code Data

*IATA Code: PH
*ICAO Code: PAO
*Callsign: POLYNESIAN [ [http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/ Airline Codes] November 2006]

History

The airline was established in 1959 and started operations in August 1959 with services between Apia and Pago Pago using a Percival Prince aircraft. The government of Western Samoa acquired a controlling interest in 1971. Ansett Airlines of Australia signed a five year management contract in 1982 with the government to run the airline. This was extended for a further ten years in 1987. In February 1995 a commercial alliance with Air New Zealand was signed to develop marketing, sales and operational relationships. Jet operations have been taken over by Polynesian Blue. The airline is wholly owned by the Government of Western Samoa and has a 49% holding in Polynesian Blue.

Destinations

The airline offers regional services from its hub in Apia to Pago Pago in American Samoa. Polynesian Airlines also continues to operate domestically within Samoa and on code-share to and from Nadi in Fiji [ [http://www.polynesianairlines.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=26/ Polynesian Airlines] July 2007] .

Pre-2005

Polynesian Airlines previously serviced the following international destinations: Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Papeete in French Polynesia and Honolulu and Los Angeles in the United States on a code share basis with Air New Zealand and in its own right with leased 767's- an operation that bankrupted the airline. [ [http://www.polynesianairlines.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=26/ Polynesian Airlines] July 2007] .

Fleet

The Polynesian Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft at (at March 2007) :

*1 Bombardier Dash 8 Q100
*1 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300
*1 Britten-Norman BN2A Islander

External links

* [http://www.polynesianairlines.com Polynesian Airlines]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/07/14/1120934336080.html The Age article about new airline]

References