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| Commenced operations | October 31, 2005 (asPolynesian Blue) December 7, 2011 (asVirgin Samoa) | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | November 12, 2017 | ||||||
| Hubs | Faleolo International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Velocity | ||||||
| Fleet size | 1 | ||||||
| Destinations | 4 | ||||||
| Parent company | Virgin Australia Holdings (49%) Government of Samoa (49%) Grey Investment Group (2%) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Bowen Hills,Brisbane, Australia | ||||||
| Key people | Mark Pitt (CEO) | ||||||
| Website | virginaustralia.com/samoa | ||||||
Virgin Samoa, formerlyPolynesian Blue, was theflag carrier ofSamoa.[1] It was owned byVirgin Australia Holdings (49%), theGovernment of Samoa (49%) andGrey Investment Group (2%).[2][3] Polynesian Blue took over the long-haul flights (those involving Australia or New Zealand), which were operated byPolynesian Airlines. In December 2011, Polynesian Blue was renamedVirgin Samoa. It ceased operations on 12 November 2017.
In 2005,Virgin Blue Holdings signed an agreement with theGovernment of Samoa to operate ajoint venture airline. The announcement came after several months of detailed discussions between the two parties and involved the Samoan government and Virgin Blue joining forces to set up a new company to operate jet routes previously flown byPolynesian Airlines. The namePolynesian Blue was adopted in keeping with the Virgin Blue family of brands, which also includedChristchurch basedPacific Blue Airlines. Its first flight was on 31 October 2005, betweenApia,Auckland andSydney.
Pacific Blue Airlines changed its ICAO code from PBI to PBN to prevent air traffic controllers from confusing the I for a 1 in flight plans. This also applies to Virgin Samoa flights operated byVirgin Australia. The ICAO code PLB (call sign: POLYBLUE) is currently reserved for the airline but not in use.
Virgin Blue Holdings rebranded its airlines under the new Virgin Australia name in 2011, later renaming itself Virgin Australia Holdings.[4] Polynesian Blue was rebranded Virgin Samoa and a new livery was unveiled for one of theBoeing 737-800s operated by Virgin Australia (NZ) - which features traditional Samoan tattoos on the engines, designed by Tuifa’asisina Tolouena Sua. Cabin crew uniforms were also redesigned to feature the new imagery.[5]
In 2015, Virgin Australia decided to relinquish its New Zealand Air Operators Certificate, with all New Zealand-registered aircraft, including the Virgin Samoa-branded aircraft, transferred to the Australian register.[6]
In May 2017, thePrime Minister of Samoa,Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, wrote to Virgin Australia advising of the government's intention to withdraw from the joint venture.[7] This followed two years of the government's unhappiness that Samoan customers and government were not obtaining enough of the benefits from the joint venture.[8] Virgin Australia later confirmed that services would cease on 12 November 2017.[3][9] The government proposesPolynesian Airlines resume operating long-distance flights[10] while Virgin Australia commenced operating services to Samoa on 13 November 2017 in its own right.[11]
Before its cessation on 12 November 2017, Virgin Samoa operated scheduled passenger flights from Apia to the following destinations:
| Country | City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Brisbane | Brisbane Airport | |
| Sydney | Sydney Airport | ||
| New Zealand | Auckland | Auckland Airport | |
| Samoa | Apia | Faleolo International Airport | Hub |
Virgin Samoa did not own any of its own aircraft. All flights were operated on behalf of Virgin Samoa byVirgin Australia. One of their aircraft was painted in Virgin Samoa livery and namedTapu I'Tea.[12]
| Aircraft | In service | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | |||
| Boeing 737-800 | 1 | 8 | 168 | 176 | [12] |
| Total | 1 | ||||
Airlines ofSamoa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Active |  | |
| Defunct | ||
