Samoa Airways has added the Australian city of Brisbane to its list of destinations and will commence the service in November.

Making the announcement just a few months’ shy of its one-year anniversary, Samoa’s national airline said the direct service between Apia and Brisbane will be twice weekly on Tuesday and Sunday using its 737-800 aircraft. 

The inaugural flight is scheduled to take off on November 13, which will mark one year since Samoa Airways took to the skies.

Samoa Airways CEO, Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala, indicated that the presence of a large Samoan population in Brisbane was one of the factors behind the decision to fly to the Queensland capital.

“The Brisbane area is home to a large Samoan population and I am particularly pleased that the national carrier, with the support of Brisbane Airport, is able to respond to calls by our community who travel frequently between Samoa, American Samoa and Brisbane for family, church and cultural obligations, for improved air access,” he said in a statement. 

Tupuivao and Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff signed a partnership agreement. The agreement acknowledged the relationship between Queensland and Samoa, and the collaborative approach by Brisbane Airport and the national carrier to establish non-stop air services.

The Minister for Samoa Airways, Lautafi Selafi Purcell, will deliver the official address on behalf of the Samoan government and Samoa Airways at the occasion.  

A special event for the Samoan community in Brisbane will also be held in Ipswich as part of this announcement with Lautafi the main speaker. 

CEO Tupuivao said Brisbane Airport presented a good opportunity for Samoa Airways for many reasons. These included the airport being Australia's third busiest, with total annual passengers of 23 million in 2017.

It is a key gateway which serves 32 international ports and 52 domestic destinations and is an award winning airport offering world class facilities.