After a three-year absence, Virgin Australia resumes direct Samoa flights today with an all-Samoan cabin crew on board for the first flight from Sydney to Apia this evening. Virgin Australia has also launched a 72hr Samoa sale with return airfares from $549.
Virgin will operate twice-weekly flights from Sydney and Brisbane to Apia on the airline’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft with BNE services commencing on 23 March 2023.
The all-Samoan cabin crew and First Officer will warmly greet guests in Sydney, who will also be treated to a traditional song during the flight and a cultural welcome upon landing in Apia.
Virgin Australia Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said the return was welcome news for travellers across the Pacific.
“There is a strong ‘Visiting Friends and Relatives’ (VFR) market in Samoa, which is why we wanted to mark this occasion with a Samoan crew,” he said.
“It’s an exciting step in the rebuilding of our short-haul international network and comes ahead of our return to Vanuatu later this month.
“Samoa is well-known for its rich culture and friendly locals and has been a popular destination in the Virgin Australia network since 2005.”
Samoa Tourism Authority CEO Pativaine Petaia-Tevita said: “The return of Virgin Australia flights from Australia to Samoa is wonderful news for the nation, boosting collective efforts to rebuild and recover Samoa’s visitor economy.”
“With a diverse flight schedule, it means more and more travellers will be able to make their way to us to experience Fa`a-Samoa, our beautiful culture and way of life.”
Flights from Brisbane and Sydney will initially depart in the evening with the Sydney flight moving to a daytime departure on 28 March 2023.
Sydney–Apia return flights operate on Tuesday and Saturday while Brisbane–Apia services will leave Brisbane on Wednesday and Sunday and ex-Apia on Monday and Thursday.
Virgin Australia’s international short-haul network now includes Bali, Queenstown, Nadi and Port Vila with Tokyo (Haneda) to commence in June 2023.
For more info, head to virginaustralia.com
