Samoa rules out leasing a new Boeing 737 max 9 aircraft

Samoa's national carrier will not go ahead with the lease of a new Boeing 737 max 9 aircraft according to the prime minister.

The Cabinet has decided to look for another Boeing 737-800 to continue its service once the lease of the current 737-800 aircraft from an Italian company expires at the end of the month.

Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi revealed the decision in his weekly radio interview, adding that the Minister responsible for Samoa Airways was negotiating whether the lease of the current aircraft can be extended while looking for another plane.

Tuila'epa said the government could not wait for the report on the 737 max 8 crashed in Ethiopia which killed 157 people because safety is a priority for Samoa's national carrier.