Pago Pago International Airport
Encyclopedia
Pago Pago International Airport , also referred to as Tafuna Airport (or Tafuna International Airport), Tafuna Airfield, Tafuna Airbase or Pago Pago International with airport designation PPG is a public airport
located seven (7) miles (11.3 km) southwest of the central business district
of Pago Pago
, in the village and plains of Tafuna on the island of Tutuila
in American Samoa
, an unincorporated territory of the United States
.
- Samoa Defense Group Area and was partially constructed before war broke out in the Pacific on December 7, 1941. Two airstrips were completed and opened on March 17, 1942.
The airfield was first utilized on March 19, 1942 by U.S. Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-111
which arrived by ship from San Diego, California
. VMF-111 aircraft were off loaded in Pago Pago harbor and trucked to Tafuna airfield. The first planes from MAG-13 also arrived at Tafuna Airfield on April 2, 1942 at which point they assumed responsibility for the air defense of American Samoa. Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron VMO-151 arrived in early May 1942 at Tafuna Airfield where all three squadrons were based during the early part of the Pacific War. VMF-111 was eventually transitioned and based at Faleolo Airfield
in Western (British) Samoa
after Faleolo airfield was completed in July 1942 to protect Upolu and Savai'i islands.
The original runways were compass bearing 9/27 (6080 feet (1,853 m) x 500 feet (152 m)) and 14/32 (3000 feet (914 m) x 200 feet (61 m)) and were constructed of compact coral with capability to handle 65 fighter aircraft and 12 medium to heavy bombers. The runways were lighted. The main terminal airfield buildings, a large hangar and control tower were located at the edge of today's runway 8/26 and at what is today the Tafuna Industrial Park area.
, known then as Leone Airfield in early 1943. It was situated on what is today Leone High School and Midkiff Elementary School on the western edge of Tutuila Island. Leone Airfield was 6000 feet (1,829 m) x 500 feet (152 m) and was completed on September 30, 1943. It had a short life during the war. The airfield was abandoned in early 1945 due to turbulent air currents and lack of use. Only two aircraft were recorded to have landed and took off from the airfield. A visual outline of Leone Airfield can be seen from the air today with a straight clearance road starting from the WVUV-AM radio tower to Midkiff Elementary School.
/ Auckland
& Sydney
route. This service was conducted using the outbased DC-7C aircraft Clipper Seven Seas N743PA and Clipper Pacific Trader N744PA
on the route and continued until November 1965.
It was also used for inter island air service between Faleolo
, Western Samoa and Pago Pago in 1959 by newly formed, Apia-based Polynesian Airlines
and short-lived, Pago Pago-based Samoan Airways using ex-military Douglas C-47B-45-DK (DC-3D) type aircraft.
Tasman Empire Airways Limited or TEAL
, the predecessor to what is now Air New Zealand
offered DC-6 (eventually using Lockheed L-188 Electra
aircraft in 1960) flights from Nadi
to Pago Pago and onwards to Tahiti
in 1954 as part of its Coral Route
Service.
New terminal buildings and tarmac ramp areas were also constructed. Runway designation 9/27 which was the primary runway for commercial air service in the 1950s and early 1960s was deactivated after the newer, longer runway 5/23 was open for aircraft flights. Pago Pago International Airport was opened to jet service in 1964 to stimulate tourism and a new local economy.
in 1964 using Boeing 707
aircraft. Air New Zealand
, which was already flying the Auckland / Nadi / Pago Pago / Papeete
route using Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft shifted to DC-8 aircraft in November 1965. In 1970 American Airlines
began flying the Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney route using Boeing 707 aircraft. UTA French Airlines began DC-10 service in 1975 between Noumea
, New Caledonia
and Papeete, Tahiti via Pago Pago. Continental Airlines
also began DC-10 service from Honolulu to Sydney and Auckland via Pago Pago in 1979.
Pago Pago International Airport went through its peak in aviation between 1975 and 1985. During this period Pan American (using Boeing 747
's), Air New Zealand (using DC-8's), UTA French Airlines (using DC-10's), Continental Airlines (using DC-10's), Hawaiian Airlines
(using a DC-8), South Pacific Island Airways
(using Boeing 707's), Samoa Air
(using a Boeing 707), Arrow Air
(using a DC-8), Air Nauru
(Boeing 737
& 727
), and Air Pacific
(using a BAC-11
) were all prying the South Pacific via Pago Pago. One could travel between Pago Pago and Honolulu for an airfare of US$99 one-way.
, Evergreen International Airlines
, and Polar Air Cargo
would provide at least daily Boeing 747 cargo flights to Pago Pago from the US and from Asia Pacific between 1990 and 2006.
in Independent Samoa
was improved and lengthened to handle larger than Boeing 737
type aircraft in 1984. With a population that is 3 1/2 times greater than American Samoa plus greater emphasis that was put on tourism growth, international airline traffic particularly from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific island countries began to shift from Pago Pago to Faleolo airport. Airlines with flights from the US to Australia and New Zealand also started utilizing aircraft that did not require a refueling stopover in Pago Pago. By the late 1980s and due to heavy competition and economics, only one passenger air carrier (Hawaiian Airlines) remained to service the Pago Pago trans pacific route.
The Departure and Arrival terminal also went through a major expansion in the mid-1970s where buildings and space was doubled in size to handle more passengers.
To facilitate aircraft with large payload requirements and long distance flights, runway 5/23 was expanded in early 2001 from an original runway length of 9000 feet (2,743 m) to the current 10000 feet (3,048 m).
On October 13 and 19, 2009, the world's largest and heaviest aircraft, the Antonov An-225
landed at Pago Pago International Airport to deliver emergency power generation equipment during the 2009 Samoa earthquake
and tsunami
.
Pago Pago International Airport had historic significance with the U.S. Apollo Program.
The astronaut
crews of Apollo 10
, 12
, 13
, 14
, and 17
were retrieved a few hundred miles from Pago Pago and transported by helicopter to the airport prior to being flown to Honolulu on C-141 Starlifter
military aircraft.
Hawaiian Airlines is the only major airline serving Pago Pago International Airport. In 2004, with assistance from the American Samoa Government to promote and bring additional air carriers to Pago Pago, Aloha Airlines
gave it a run by operating a Honolulu / Pago Pago / Rarotonga route. However, the airline lasted 11 months and eventually pulled out of Pago Pago and other South Pacific routes it serviced due to financial issues.
Weekly Cargo flight from Honolulu, Hawaii is provided by Asia Pacific Airlines
Pago Pago International Airport is a frequent stopover for United States military aircraft flying in the South Pacific and is the only airport in the area with TACAN capabilities.
Daily inter island flights between the Samoas are offered by Inter Island Airways
and Polynesian Airlines
.
Due to American Samoa's distance from Hawaii and the US mainland, it is doubtful that any new major US airline will service this market in the future and compete directly with Hawaiian Airlines. The economics and cost may not make sense. However, the American Samoa Government is looking into legal means to overcome current US Cabotage
rules that forbid foreign carriers from entering and servicing the Pago Pago / Honolulu or Pago Pago / Los Angeles route. Additionally, the government has recently requested Southwest Airlines
to consider extending their forthcoming Honolulu route with the Boeing 737-800 to include service to American Samoa at an undetermined future date.
(ARFF) Fire Crash station was completed in 2005.
A US$18+ million Hot Fire/Crash Training facility was constructed and completed in 2008 and was to be used to train ARFF personnel, and other Fire Crash personnel from various airports in the South Pacific.
In 2010, Pago Pago International airport underwent US$1+ million terminal remodeling and modernization with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
. The Departure terminal, immigration, and Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) security and lounge areas were completely renovated and expanded to handled more passenger capacity and flow.
Taxi Way Alpha ("A") is currently undergoing resurfacing and is expected to be completed by mid-2011.
A new Control tower
is in the planning and approval stage. Future plans also call for construction of a Jet bridge to facilitate loading/unloading of passengers from large aircraft without endear the weather elements.
www.afiomai.webs.com
Office:(684) 699-6792, Fax:(684) 699-6793, 24hr. service numbers: (684) 770-9798/3187 (Janet Utu Mulipola/ Arthur P. Helsham).
, Boeing 707-321B "Clipper Radiant", operating a scheduled flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles, California with en route stops in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and Honolulu, Hawaii crashed into trees at an elevation of 113 feet, and about 3,865 feet short of runway 23/5 threshold. The first impact with the ground was about 236 feet farther along the crash path. The aircraft continued through the jungle vegetation, struck a 3-foot-high lava rock wall, and stopped about 3,090 feet from the runway threshold. There were 97 fatalities out of 101 occupants on the aircraft.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located seven (7) miles (11.3 km) southwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Pago Pago
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pago Pago , also spelled ', is the capital of American Samoa. In 2000, its population was 11,500. The city is served by Pago Pago International Airport. Tourism, entertainment, food, and tuna canning are the primary industries here. From 1878 to 1951, this was a coaling and repair station for the...
, in the village and plains of Tafuna on the island of Tutuila
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
in American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, an unincorporated territory of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Tafuna Airfield
The site and location of the current airport was originally known as Tafuna Airfield. It was part of U.S. Naval Station TutuilaUnited States Naval Station Tutuila
United States Naval Station Tutuila was a naval station in Pago Pago Harbor on the island of Tutuila, part of American Samoa, built in 1899 and in operation until 1951. During the United States Navy rule of American Samoa, from 1900 to 1951, it was customary for the commandant of the station to...
- Samoa Defense Group Area and was partially constructed before war broke out in the Pacific on December 7, 1941. Two airstrips were completed and opened on March 17, 1942.
The airfield was first utilized on March 19, 1942 by U.S. Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-111
VMF-111
Marine Fighting Squadron 111 was a reserve fighter squadron in the United States Marine Corps. Nicknamed the “Devil Dogs”, the squadron was one of the first aviation squadrons in the Marine Corps and gained national attention in the 1930s as the Marine Corps show unit...
which arrived by ship from San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. VMF-111 aircraft were off loaded in Pago Pago harbor and trucked to Tafuna airfield. The first planes from MAG-13 also arrived at Tafuna Airfield on April 2, 1942 at which point they assumed responsibility for the air defense of American Samoa. Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron VMO-151 arrived in early May 1942 at Tafuna Airfield where all three squadrons were based during the early part of the Pacific War. VMF-111 was eventually transitioned and based at Faleolo Airfield
Faleolo International Airport
Faleolo International Airport is an airport located west of Apia, the capital of Samoa.Until 1984, Faleolo could not accommodate jets larger than a Boeing 737...
in Western (British) Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
after Faleolo airfield was completed in July 1942 to protect Upolu and Savai'i islands.
| Runway | length | Width | Type | Operational Years | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/27 | 6080 feet (1,853 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | Compact Coral | 1942–1964 | Primary runway |
| 14/32 | 3000 feet (914 m) | 200 feet (61 m) | Compact Coral | 1942–1950 | Secondary runway |
The original runways were compass bearing 9/27 (6080 feet (1,853 m) x 500 feet (152 m)) and 14/32 (3000 feet (914 m) x 200 feet (61 m)) and were constructed of compact coral with capability to handle 65 fighter aircraft and 12 medium to heavy bombers. The runways were lighted. The main terminal airfield buildings, a large hangar and control tower were located at the edge of today's runway 8/26 and at what is today the Tafuna Industrial Park area.
Leone Airfield
In conjunction with the airstrip at Tafuna, an emergency Bomber airstrip was also constructed in the village of LeoneLeone, American Samoa
- Tsunami :Leone was devastated by a tsunami on September 29, 2009. The tsunami was generated by a magnitude 8.0 suboceanic earthquake.- References :...
, known then as Leone Airfield in early 1943. It was situated on what is today Leone High School and Midkiff Elementary School on the western edge of Tutuila Island. Leone Airfield was 6000 feet (1,829 m) x 500 feet (152 m) and was completed on September 30, 1943. It had a short life during the war. The airfield was abandoned in early 1945 due to turbulent air currents and lack of use. Only two aircraft were recorded to have landed and took off from the airfield. A visual outline of Leone Airfield can be seen from the air today with a straight clearance road starting from the WVUV-AM radio tower to Midkiff Elementary School.
Pre-Jet Service
Pago Pago International Airport and the original Tafuna Airfield military facilities were first used for commercial trans pacific air service in November 1946 when Pan American Airways resumed service from Honolulu to Australia and New Zealand. Pan American utilized Douglas DC-4, and eventually upgraded to DC-7C aircraft in the 1956 (when Pago Pago International Airport was upgraded as a commercial airport) for its Honolulu / Canton Island / Pago Pago / NadiNadi International Airport
Nadi International Airport is the main international gateway for the islands of Fiji. It serves about 1.2 million people per year, and is the main hub of Air Pacific. The airport is 10km from the city of Nadi. In 2009 it handled 1,220,000 passengers on international and domestic...
/ Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
& Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
route. This service was conducted using the outbased DC-7C aircraft Clipper Seven Seas N743PA and Clipper Pacific Trader N744PA
on the route and continued until November 1965.
| Started | Ended | Airline Name | Aircraft | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 1965 | Pan American Airways | DC-4 & DC-7 | Honolulu / Canton Island / Pago Pago / Sydney and Auckland |
| 1954 | 1965 | TEAL (Air New Zealand) | DC-6 & Lockheed L-188 Electra | Auckland / Nadi / Pago Pago / Papeete |
| 1959 | 1970 | Polynesian Airilnes | DC-3 | Apia(Faleolo) / Pago Pago |
It was also used for inter island air service between Faleolo
Faleolo International Airport
Faleolo International Airport is an airport located west of Apia, the capital of Samoa.Until 1984, Faleolo could not accommodate jets larger than a Boeing 737...
, Western Samoa and Pago Pago in 1959 by newly formed, Apia-based Polynesian Airlines
Polynesian Airlines
Polynesian Airlines is the national airline of Samoa and has its headquarters in the Samoa National Provident Fund Building in the capital, Apia. It formerly flew all over the Pacific but with the establishment of Polynesian Blue by the government and Virgin Blue , Polynesian Airlines has...
and short-lived, Pago Pago-based Samoan Airways using ex-military Douglas C-47B-45-DK (DC-3D) type aircraft.
Tasman Empire Airways Limited or TEAL
TEAL
Tasman Empire Airways Limited was the forerunner of Air New Zealand. It was first registered in Wellington as a limited liability company on 26 April 1940....
, the predecessor to what is now Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
offered DC-6 (eventually using Lockheed L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
aircraft in 1960) flights from Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
to Pago Pago and onwards to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
in 1954 as part of its Coral Route
TEAL
Tasman Empire Airways Limited was the forerunner of Air New Zealand. It was first registered in Wellington as a limited liability company on 26 April 1940....
Service.
The Jet Age
Pago Pago International Airport went through major re-construction in 1963 under the U.S. President Kennedy administration. The WW II military-era runway designated 14/32 was converted to a taxiway and ramp area, and a new runway was constructed and designated 5/23 with a paved length of 9000 feet (2,743 m) and width of 150 feet (46 m).| Runway | length | Width | Type | Operational Years | Last Major Improvement | Usage | Max Type Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/27 | 6080 feet (1,853 m) | 500 feet (152 m) | Compact Coral | 1942–1964 (Closed) | 1950 (sealed tar runway) | Primary Runway | DC-7 and Lockheed L-188 Electra |
| 5/23 | 9000 feet (2,743 m) | 150 feet (46 m) | Asphalt | 1964 - Current | 2001 (Runway extension) | Primary runway | Boeing 747 / Lockheed C-5 Galaxy |
| 14/32 | 3000 feet (914 m) | 200 feet (61 m) | Compact Coral | 1942–1950 (converted to taxiway to runway 5/23 in 1963) | 1942 | Secondary runway | Small WW II Fighter Aircraft |
New terminal buildings and tarmac ramp areas were also constructed. Runway designation 9/27 which was the primary runway for commercial air service in the 1950s and early 1960s was deactivated after the newer, longer runway 5/23 was open for aircraft flights. Pago Pago International Airport was opened to jet service in 1964 to stimulate tourism and a new local economy.
Trans Pacific Jet Service and height of Commercial Aviation
South Pacific jet service between Sydney (Australia), Auckland (New Zealand), Honolulu (Hawaii) and Papeete (Tahiti) were first offered by Pan American World AirwaysPan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
in 1964 using Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
aircraft. Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
, which was already flying the Auckland / Nadi / Pago Pago / Papeete
Papeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
route using Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft shifted to DC-8 aircraft in November 1965. In 1970 American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
began flying the Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney route using Boeing 707 aircraft. UTA French Airlines began DC-10 service in 1975 between Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
and Papeete, Tahiti via Pago Pago. Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
also began DC-10 service from Honolulu to Sydney and Auckland via Pago Pago in 1979.
| Started | Ended | Airline Name | Aircraft | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 1982 | Pan American Airways (defunct) | Boeing 707 & Boeing 747 | Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney, Auckland, Papeete |
| 1965 | 1978 | Air New Zealand | DC-8 | Auckland / Pago Pago / Honolulu |
| 1970 | 1972 | American Airlines | Boeing 707 | Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney and Auckland |
| 1975 | 1977 | UTA French Airlines (Merged with Air France) | DC-10 | Noumea / Pago Pago / Papeete |
| 1979 | 1983 | Continental Airlines (merged with United Airlines) | DC-10 | Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney & Auckland |
| 1983 | Current | Hawaiian Airlines | DC-8, L-1011, DC-10, Boeing 767 | Honolulu / Pago Pago / Papeete, Nukualofa, Auckland (no longer services these three routes from Pago Pago) |
| 1980 | 1987 | South Pacific Island Airways (defunct) | Boeing 707 | Pago Pago / Honolulu / Papeete / Auckland / Apia(Faleolo) / Sydney / Seattle, Anchorage, Port Moresby |
| 1984 | 1985 | Samoa Air (defunct) | Boeing 707 | Pago Pago / Honolulu |
| 1982 | 1985 | Arrow Air | Boeing 707 | Honolulu / Pago Pago |
| 1978 | 1985 | Air Nauru (downsized and renamed Our Airline) | Boeing 737 and Boeing 727 | Nauru / Pago Pago |
| 1977 | 1982 | Air Pacific | BAC-111 | Nadi / Pago Pago |
Pago Pago International Airport went through its peak in aviation between 1975 and 1985. During this period Pan American (using Boeing 747
Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
's), Air New Zealand (using DC-8's), UTA French Airlines (using DC-10's), Continental Airlines (using DC-10's), Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
(using a DC-8), South Pacific Island Airways
South Pacific Island Airways
South Pacific Island Airways was an airline operating services in and around American Samoa from the early 1970s. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded the carrier in 1984, when it almost flew a charter flight into the airspace of the Soviet Union...
(using Boeing 707's), Samoa Air
Samoa Air
Samoa Air was a scheduled and charter passenger airline based in Pago Pago, American Samoa.-History:Samoa Air started operations on January 18, 1987, mainly serving the community needs of American Samoa from its base at Pago Pago. Besides interisland flying to communities in American Samoa, the...
(using a Boeing 707), Arrow Air
Arrow Air
Arrow Cargo was an American cargo airline based in Building 712 on the grounds of Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. It operated over 90 weekly scheduled cargo flights, and had a strong charter business. Its main base was Miami International Airport...
(using a DC-8), Air Nauru
Air Nauru
Our Airline is the national airline of the Republic of Nauru. It operates scheduled international services to other Pacific islands and Australia. Its main base is Nauru International Airport...
(Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
& 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
), and Air Pacific
Air Pacific
Air Pacific Limited, Fiji's international airline, operates international and domestic services around the Pacific and to North America and Hong Kong. It is also a partner with the frequent flyer programmes of Qantas, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines...
(using a BAC-11
BAC One-Eleven
The British Aircraft Corporation One-Eleven, also known as the BAC-111, BAC-1-11 or BAC 1-11, was a British short-range jet airliner of the 1960s and 1970s...
) were all prying the South Pacific via Pago Pago. One could travel between Pago Pago and Honolulu for an airfare of US$99 one-way.
Cargo Commercial Aviation
Towards the end of its peak commercial passenger aviation period, Pago Pago International Airport also became an ideal refueling stopover for cargo carriers due to the low cost of fuel and landing fees at the time. Cargo carriers such as Kalitta AirKalitta Air
Kalitta Air is an American cargo airline headquartered in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, United States. It operates international scheduled and ad-hoc cargo charter services. Its main base is Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti.-History:...
, Evergreen International Airlines
Evergreen International Airlines
Evergreen International Airlines is a cargo airline based in McMinnville, Oregon, USA. It operates contract freight services, offering charters and scheduled flights, as well as wet lease services. It operates services for the U.S. military and the United States Postal Service, as well as ad hoc...
, and Polar Air Cargo
Polar Air Cargo
For the Russian aviation company see: Polar AirlinesPolar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York, USA. It operates scheduled all-cargo services to North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East...
would provide at least daily Boeing 747 cargo flights to Pago Pago from the US and from Asia Pacific between 1990 and 2006.
| Started | Ended | Cargo Airline Name | Aircraft | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2006 | Kalitta Air | Boeing 747 | Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney and Auckland |
| 1994 | 2004 | Evergreen International Airlines | Boeing 747 | Honolulu / Pago Pago |
| 1993 | 2002 | Polar Air Cargo | Boeing 747 | Honolulu / Pago Pago / Sydney / Hong Kong |
Downturn in Airport usage and Travel
The airport was a vital link to the Samoan Islands until the runway at Faleolo International AirportFaleolo International Airport
Faleolo International Airport is an airport located west of Apia, the capital of Samoa.Until 1984, Faleolo could not accommodate jets larger than a Boeing 737...
in Independent Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
was improved and lengthened to handle larger than Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
type aircraft in 1984. With a population that is 3 1/2 times greater than American Samoa plus greater emphasis that was put on tourism growth, international airline traffic particularly from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific island countries began to shift from Pago Pago to Faleolo airport. Airlines with flights from the US to Australia and New Zealand also started utilizing aircraft that did not require a refueling stopover in Pago Pago. By the late 1980s and due to heavy competition and economics, only one passenger air carrier (Hawaiian Airlines) remained to service the Pago Pago trans pacific route.
Runway and Facility Expansion
Runway 9/27 was the primary commercial runway for aircraft in the 1950s and early 1960s. The runway was deactivated after runway 5/23 was constructed and activated in 1964. In the mid-1970s, runway 9/27 was rehabilitated, repaved and reactivated as runway 8/26 with 3800 feet (1,158 m) (length) by 100 feet (30 m) (width) to function as a secondary runway and taxiway. Runway 8/26 is widely used today by air taxi operators flying to Apia (Fagali'i and Faleolo), Ofu or Tau.The Departure and Arrival terminal also went through a major expansion in the mid-1970s where buildings and space was doubled in size to handle more passengers.
To facilitate aircraft with large payload requirements and long distance flights, runway 5/23 was expanded in early 2001 from an original runway length of 9000 feet (2,743 m) to the current 10000 feet (3,048 m).
| Runway | length | Width | Type | Operational Years | Last Major Improvement | Usage | Max Aircraft Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/23 | 10000 feet (3,048 m) | 150 feet (46 m) | Asphalt | 1964 - Current | 2001 | Primary runway | Boeing 747 / Lockheed C-5 Galaxy / Antonov An-225 Antonov An-225 The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. It is the world's heaviest aircraft. The design, built in order to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan... Mriya / Airbus A380 Airbus A380 The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it... |
| 8/26 | 3800 feet (1,158 m) | 100 feet (30 m) | Asphalt | 1979 - Current | 1979 | Secondary runway | Dash-8 / Dornier-328 / C-130 |
On October 13 and 19, 2009, the world's largest and heaviest aircraft, the Antonov An-225
Antonov An-225
The Antonov An-225 Mriya is a strategic airlift cargo aircraft, designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1980s. It is the world's heaviest aircraft. The design, built in order to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan...
landed at Pago Pago International Airport to deliver emergency power generation equipment during the 2009 Samoa earthquake
2009 Samoa earthquake
The 2009 Samoa earthquake was an 8.1 Mw submarine earthquake that took place in the Samoan Islands region at 06:48:11 local time on September 29, 2009 . At a magnitude of 8.1, it was the largest earthquake of 2009....
and tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
.
Apollo Space Program and Airport Contribution
The astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
crews of Apollo 10
Apollo 10
Apollo 10 was the fourth manned mission in the American Apollo space program. It was an F type mission—its purpose was to be a "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself. The mission included the...
, 12
Apollo 12
Apollo 12 was the sixth manned flight in the American Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon . It was launched on November 14, 1969 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, four months after Apollo 11. Mission commander Charles "Pete" Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot Alan L...
, 13
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
, 14
Apollo 14
Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks....
, and 17
Apollo 17
Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the...
were retrieved a few hundred miles from Pago Pago and transported by helicopter to the airport prior to being flown to Honolulu on C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
military aircraft.
| Apollo Mission | Date | Astronauts | Splashdown Time | Location | Recovery Ship | Aircraft out of PPG | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Apollo 10 Apollo 10 was the fourth manned mission in the American Apollo space program. It was an F type mission—its purpose was to be a "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself. The mission included the... |
26 May 1969 | Thomas P. Stafford, John W. Young and Eugene A. Cernan | 16:52 UTC / 12:52PM EST / 7:52AM Local | 400 miles east of American Samoa | USS Princeton USS Princeton (CV-37) USS Princeton was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton... |
C-141 | Norton AFB, California |
| 12 Apollo 12 Apollo 12 was the sixth manned flight in the American Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon . It was launched on November 14, 1969 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, four months after Apollo 11. Mission commander Charles "Pete" Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot Alan L... |
24 November 1969 | Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr.and Alan L. Bean | 20:58 UTC / 3:58PM EST / 9:58AM Local | Approx. 500 nautical miles east of American Samoa | USS Hornet USS Hornet (CV-12) USS Hornet is a United States Navy aircraft carrier of the Essex class. Construction started in August 1942; she was originally named , but was renamed in honor of the , which was lost in October 1942, becoming the eighth ship to bear the name.Hornet was commissioned in November 1943, and after... |
C-141 (also airlifted moon rooks) | Norton AFB, California |
| 13 Apollo 13 Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command... |
17 April 1970 | James A. Lovell, Jr., John Leonard Swigert, Jr., and Fred W. Haise, Jr. | 1:07PM EST / 8:07AM Local | USS Iwo Jima USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) USS Iwo Jima was the lead ship of her class and type—the first ship to be designed and built from the keel up as an amphibious assault ship. She carried helicopters and a detachment of embarked Marines for use in the Navy's "vertical envelopment" concept of amphibious operations... |
C-141 | Norton AFB, California | |
| 14 Apollo 14 Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks.... |
9 February 1971 | Alan B. Shepard Jr., Stuart A. Roosa, and Edgar D. Mitchell | 4:05PM EST / 10:05AM Local | 760 nautical miles South of American Samoa | USS New Orleans USS New Orleans (LPH-11) USS New Orleans was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship in the United States Navy. She was the third Navy ship to be so named, and is the first named for the Battle of New Orleans, which was the last major battle of The War of 1812.... |
C-141 | McChord AFB, Washington |
| 17 Apollo 17 Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the... |
19 December 1972 | Eugene A. Cernan, Harrison Jack H. Schmitt, and Ronald B. Evans | 2:25PM EST / 8:25AM Local | 350 nautical miles SE of American Samoa | USS Ticonderoga USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) USS Ticonderoga was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for historic Fort Ticonderoga, which played a role in the American Revolutionary War... |
C-141 | |
Today
Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
gave it a run by operating a Honolulu / Pago Pago / Rarotonga route. However, the airline lasted 11 months and eventually pulled out of Pago Pago and other South Pacific routes it serviced due to financial issues.
Weekly Cargo flight from Honolulu, Hawaii is provided by Asia Pacific Airlines
Pago Pago International Airport is a frequent stopover for United States military aircraft flying in the South Pacific and is the only airport in the area with TACAN capabilities.
Daily inter island flights between the Samoas are offered by Inter Island Airways
Inter Island Airways
Inter Island Airways is a South Pacific regional airline based in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Inter Island Airways operates passenger and cargo flights in and between American Samoa, Independent Samoa and to neighboring Pacific island countries...
and Polynesian Airlines
Polynesian Airlines
Polynesian Airlines is the national airline of Samoa and has its headquarters in the Samoa National Provident Fund Building in the capital, Apia. It formerly flew all over the Pacific but with the establishment of Polynesian Blue by the government and Virgin Blue , Polynesian Airlines has...
.
Due to American Samoa's distance from Hawaii and the US mainland, it is doubtful that any new major US airline will service this market in the future and compete directly with Hawaiian Airlines. The economics and cost may not make sense. However, the American Samoa Government is looking into legal means to overcome current US Cabotage
Cabotage
Cabotage is the transport of goods or passengers between two points in the same country by a vessel or an aircraft registered in another country. Originally starting with shipping, cabotage now also covers aviation, railways and road transport...
rules that forbid foreign carriers from entering and servicing the Pago Pago / Honolulu or Pago Pago / Los Angeles route. Additionally, the government has recently requested Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
to consider extending their forthcoming Honolulu route with the Boeing 737-800 to include service to American Samoa at an undetermined future date.
Airlines and destinations
Status and Expansion
A new US$12+ million Aircraft Rescue and FirefightingAircraft Rescue and Firefighting
Aircraft rescue and firefighting is a special category of firefighting that involves the response, hazard mitigation, evacuation and possible rescue of passengers and crew of an aircraft involved in an airport ground emergency....
(ARFF) Fire Crash station was completed in 2005.
A US$18+ million Hot Fire/Crash Training facility was constructed and completed in 2008 and was to be used to train ARFF personnel, and other Fire Crash personnel from various airports in the South Pacific.
In 2010, Pago Pago International airport underwent US$1+ million terminal remodeling and modernization with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
. The Departure terminal, immigration, and Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
(TSA) security and lounge areas were completely renovated and expanded to handled more passenger capacity and flow.
Taxi Way Alpha ("A") is currently undergoing resurfacing and is expected to be completed by mid-2011.
A new Control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
is in the planning and approval stage. Future plans also call for construction of a Jet bridge to facilitate loading/unloading of passengers from large aircraft without endear the weather elements.
Terminal and Gates
| Area | Number | Description/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger Terminals | 1 | Combination of 8 buildings inter connected |
| Aircraft Gates | 3 | A, B, C |
| Aircraft Stands | 3 | Ramp/Tarmac area |
Passenger Service
| Area | Number | Location | Tenant/Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline Check-In Counters | 10 | Check-In Building | Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International... (4) / Polynesian Airlines Polynesian Airlines Polynesian Airlines is the national airline of Samoa and has its headquarters in the Samoa National Provident Fund Building in the capital, Apia. It formerly flew all over the Pacific but with the establishment of Polynesian Blue by the government and Virgin Blue , Polynesian Airlines has... (2) / Inter Island Airways Inter Island Airways Inter Island Airways is a South Pacific regional airline based in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Inter Island Airways operates passenger and cargo flights in and between American Samoa, Independent Samoa and to neighboring Pacific island countries... (3) |
| Full Service Restaurant | 1 | Check-In building | Island Hut Steak House |
| Snack Bars | 2 | Gift Shop Building / Departure Building (Lounge) | Island Picks / South Pacific Duty Free Shoppers |
| Gift Shops | 6 | Gift Shop Building | |
| Duty Free Shops | 1 | Departure Building (Lounge) | South Pacific Duty Free Shoppers |
| VIP Lounge | 1 | Departure Building | Governor's Lounge |
| Travel Agency | 1 | Check-In Building | Inter Island Vacations |
| Rental Vehicle Stands | 4 | Departure Building | AVIS |
| Money Currency Exchange | 1 | Departure Building | |
| Taxi Stands/Service | 4 | Located outside of airport terminal/parking lot area around main terminal entrance | Airport Taxi / Pago Pago Taxi |
| Bank/ATM | 1 | Departure Building | ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank (ATM only) |
| Parking Lots | 3 | Main Parking Lot / Employee Parking Lot / Overflow Parking Lot | US$1 parking fee (from 8AM-5PM daily, 5PM-10PM Monday & Thursday) |
Nearest Hotels
| Hotel | Village Area | Location (miles from airport) | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tradewinds Hotel | Ottoville | 2 miles (7 minutes) | www.tradewinds.as | |
| Pago Pago Airport Inn | Tafuna | 1/2 mile (4–5 minutes) | ||
| Sadie’s by the Sea | Utulei | 7 miles (20 minutes) | www.sadieshotels.com | |
| Sadie Thompson Inn | Fagatogo | 8 miles (25 minutes) | www.sadieshotels.com | |
| Runway Inn | Tafuna | 2 miles (5 minutes) | ||
| Taalogo Bed & Breakfast | Ili'ili | 3 miles (10 minutes) | ||
| Tesseria Inn | Vaitogi | 4 miles (12 minutes) | ||
| Moana-O-Sina Bed & Breakfast | Fogagogo | 3 miles (10 minutes) | ||
Aircraft Hangar and Services
| Service Type | Vendor/Provider | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Maintenance Hangar | Inter Island Airways | www.interislandair.com | Office:(684)699-5700 |
| Maintenance/Storage Hangar | Pritchard Airport Services | www.pas.as | Office:(684)699-5812, Fax:(684)699-9991 |
| Aircraft Ground Handling Services | Pritchard Airport Services | www.pas.as | Mobile:(684)731-1700, Office:(684)699-5812, Fax:(684)699-9991 |
| Aircraft Ground Handling Services | Hawaiian Airlines | www.hawaiianair.com | |
| Aircraft Refueling | Pacific Petroleum Company | www.pacificpetrole.com | |
Office:(684) 699-6792, Fax:(684) 699-6793, 24hr. service numbers: (684) 770-9798/3187 (Janet Utu Mulipola/ Arthur P. Helsham).
Home based Airlines (current and previous)
| Started | Ended | Airline Name | Aircraft | Routes | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Current | Inter Island Airways | BN2 Islander, Dornier 228, Dornier 328 | American Samoa (Pago Pago, Tau, Ofu (Suspended)), Samoa (Apia/Faleolo) | www.interislandair.com |
| 2005 | 2009 | South Pacific Express (defunct) | Shorts 360 | American Samoa (Pago Pago), Samoa (Apia/Faleolo) | |
| 1987 | 2003 | Samoa Air (defunct) | DHC Twin Otter, King Air 100 | American Samoa (Pago Pago, Tau, Ofu), Samoa (Apia(Fagali'i), Apia(Faleolo), Moata), Tonga (Vavau), Niue (Alofi) | www.samoaair.com |
| 1984 | 1992 | Manu'a Air Transport (defunct) | BN2 Islander | American Samoa (Pago Pago, Ofu, Tau) | |
| 1973 | 1987 | South Pacific Island Airways (SPIA) (defunct) | Cessna 402, BN2 Islander, DH6 Twin Otter, Boeing 707 | American Samoa (Pago Pago, Ofu, Tau), Samoa (Apia(Faleolo)), Tonga (Vavau, Nuku'alofa), Niue (Alofi), Tahiti (Papeete), New Zealand (Auckland), Australia (Sydney), Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby), Hawaii (Honolulu), Washington (Seattle), Alaska (Anchorage), Guam (Agana) | |
| 1959 | 1959 | Samoa Airways (defunct) | DC-3 | American Samoa (Pago Pago), Samoa (Apia(Faleolo)) | |
Airport Incidents
On January 30, 1974 at about 11:41pm Samoa local time, Pan Am Flight 806Pan Am Flight 806
Pan Am Flight 806, a Boeing 707-321B, was a scheduled flight from Auckland, New Zealand to Los Angeles, California with intermediate stops at Pago Pago, American Samoa and Honolulu, Hawaii. On January 30, 1974 it crashed on approach to Pago Pago International Airport...
, Boeing 707-321B "Clipper Radiant", operating a scheduled flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Los Angeles, California with en route stops in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and Honolulu, Hawaii crashed into trees at an elevation of 113 feet, and about 3,865 feet short of runway 23/5 threshold. The first impact with the ground was about 236 feet farther along the crash path. The aircraft continued through the jungle vegetation, struck a 3-foot-high lava rock wall, and stopped about 3,090 feet from the runway threshold. There were 97 fatalities out of 101 occupants on the aircraft.