Samoa Airways is set to be the first Pacific airline to operate a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, after signing an agreement with Air Lease Corporation or ALC.
ALC Chairman, Stevn Hazy and Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, with Samoa Airways chairman on left and Minister for Samoa Airways at the signing of the Memorandum Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Tipi Autagavaia
ALC executive chairman Steven Hazy said the arrival of the aircraft in March will signal the first time one of its kind is flown in the Pacific.
Mr Hazy said it had greater capacity than the current 737-800's used by Samoa Airways.
"This aircraft in an all economy configuration can accommodate 220 passengers so it is almost as big as the 767-200. Therefore it not only carries more passengers, but has about a 20 percent greater cargo and belly capacity."
Samoa's Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said the current aircraft will be returned when the new Boeing 737 Max 9 arrives with a second aircraft scheduled to arrive in June.