Pacific

Samoa to close one of its two airports

10:21 am on 10 September 2004

Samoa's cabinet has approved the move to close Fagalii airport, near Apia, from January next year.

The Samoa Observer newspaper reports that a manager for the Airport Authority, Fepulea'i Rimoni Aiafi, confirmed the move was recommend by the Board.

The Airport board decided Fagalii has problems operating in bad weather, lacks adequate air traffic control, and has no fire truck.

Also the runway has no lights, and couldn't be extended any further for bigger aircraft to land there.

The board also said that they'd save costs by having just one airport, Faleolo International.