Samoa Prime Minister: Virgin Australia low Australia-Samoa frequency led to increased airfares

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi believes Virgin Australia previously limited Australia-Samoa frequency in order to justify higher air fares (NZ Radio, 19-Jul-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, the JV between Virgin Australia and the Samoa Government concludes in Nov-2017 and Virgin Australia has now applied to increase frequency to five times weekly. Mr Sa'ilele Malielegaoi stated "the Government would play a vital role in Virgin's application and it would be stupid to say yes".