The annual operating cost of an international carrier is estimated at $30 million, and this is not including the purchase of the aircraft, which will not happen this year, said Minister of Finance Mulipola Anarosa Molio’o.

Mulipola said during a press conference last week that aircraft operations are costly. She said discussions will continue with the taskforce to clarify whether the estimate includes two aircraft.

She said no final decision has been made on whether to buy or lease aircraft, stressing that the priority is preparation, including ground handling equipment, aircraft servicing, trained crew, accommodation and airport capacity.

Mulipola said a one to two year preparation period is required before any aircraft can be introduced, adding that bringing aircraft without full readiness would be unwise. 

She said two options are being considered for aircraft acquisition, which are purchasing or leasing. A cabinet-approved aircraft task force, which includes Samoa Airways, is expected to meet, with the task force requiring data to align the Unit Trust of Samoa diaspora investment with the total funding needed for the aircraft.

She added that a small but steady number of current UTOS holders have invested the minimum $500 into the fund. 

Mulipola said during a press conference last week that the $500 investment is the lowest entry amount, and once funds are deposited, investors earn benefits through the UTOS system. She said contributors receive returns in two ways: interest based on their units or investment amount, and dividends from the overall fund.

Mulipola said UTOS declared a $10 million profit during its annual general meeting, which will be distributed into the savings accounts of contributors.

She said UTOS is making preparations to allocate a portion of funds towards aircraft investment, alongside government initiatives targeting Samoans living overseas who have shown interest in investing. Mulipola said this is viewed as a positive development.

According to the minister, 94 per cent of UTOS contributors are based in Samoa, while six per cent live overseas, noting that the initiative prioritises Samoans rather than foreign investors. She also pointed to an increase in remittances, but said UTOS differs from remittances as it allows contributors to plan and prepare for the future, including benefits for children and long-term goals.

She said the current financial period covers 2026 to 2027, and there must be a clear target amount for contributions to be achieved by the end of that period.

She said the project requires cooperation from government, the private sector, overseas Samoans and related industries.

Despite the challenges, Mulipola said the plans are being carefully structured and added that nothing is impossible, provided proper preparation is completed.