In accordance with current federal law, the US Transportation Department has granted just a 30-day cabotage waiver for the Samoa Government-owned Polynesian Airlines to operate neighbouring American Samoa's domestic flights.
Photo: Alan Lebeda
Polynesian has been operating flights between Tutuila and the Manu'a islands - Fitiuta Airport on Ta'u island and Ofu Airport on Ofu island - since 2014, due to the lack of a US registered carrier for the territory's domestic air service.
Last month, Polynesian sought a 12-month exemption so it would not have to apply every month.
But in a decision last week the federal government granted 30-days, allowing flights through to 19 March.