Pacific Magazine > Magazine > January 1, 2001

Transportation Briefs

Transportation Briefs

By Fili Sagapolutele, Gregory Glass, and Pacific Island Reports

Samoa

Air New Zealand has discontinued its weekly flight between Apia and Honolulu, Hawaii but it launched a direct service on Sundays from Apia to Los Angeles, Calif. effective Oct. 29th.The Los Angeles flight involves a code-sharing agreement with United Airlines. Samoa’s national carrier, Polynesian Airlines resumed air-service between Apia and Honolulu, Hawaii in late November. The Samoa government-owned airline suspended U.S. service about nine years ago after hitting financial turbulence. The airline’s new long-range Boeing 737-800 arrived in Apia in mid-November.

Kiribati

Kiribati government leaders announced during the Pacific Islands Forum in late October their plan to purchase a 70-seat plane to resume service once offered by Air Marshall Islands linking Majuro with Nadi, Fiji via Tarawa and Funafuti, Tuvalu. Tuvalu is expected to contribute to the plane purchase. The aircraft that will be acquired is an ATR-72.

Marshall Islands

After a nearly three year void in regular shipping service to the outer islands following collapse of government-run transportation, it seems like everyone is getting into the shipping act these days. Majuro-based Pacific International Inc. brought in the Mercy K cargo vessel in late 1999, and has complemented it with the Deborah K, which company official Kenneth Kramer says is the biggest landing craft-style ship in the Micronesian region, save for one at the U.S. Army base at Kwajalein. The Wotje local government is bringing in a 60-foot vessel from Hawaii using Taiwan and Japan funding so islanders can export watermelons and pumpkins to Majuro. In addition, several Majuro businessmen now operate smaller boats to the nearby atolls of Arno and Mili to collect copra and sell goods.

Papua New Guinea

A Cessna 402 light aircraft transporting a shipment of gold from Wau to Port Moresby was hijacked between Garaina and Wau in Morobe province in early November. The pilot was forced at gunpoint to return to Garaina airstrip and the gold was stolen by six armed men.

Micronesia

Continental Micronesia Capt. Jay Welch receives a “champagne salute” at the airport on Guam from Flight Attendant Benita Krusee after the airline’s last Boeing 727 completed its final flight in September. The venerable 727s have been retired from the Continental Micronesia fleet after 32 years of service.

Ending an era in Micronesia, Continental Micronesia flew its last Boeing 727 flight on September 29. Airline President Bill Meehan and Vice President Walter Dias flew on the “Island Hopper,” making presentations and meeting with officials along the Guam-Chuuk-Pohnpei-Kosrae-Kwajalein-Majuro-Honolulu route. “This is truly a special occasion for Continental Micronesia as we close one era in aviation history and begin a new one,” Meehan said. The aging 727s have been replaced with new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. “Our $500 million investment in the new aircraft once again emphasizes our commitment to serving travel needs throughout Micronesia and the Pacific,” he said. On Guam, the retiring 727 received the traditional water cannon salute from the airport’s fire department. The 727 has been a workhorse in the region, serving these islands since May 16, 1968. The two earliest 727s used on the “Island Hopper” route featured special Teflon coatings on their underbellies to protect the fuselage from chips and fragments from the crushed coral runways prevalent in the area at the time.