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APIA, SAMOA – In a move that is likely to affect both local travelers and international tourists, the Samoa Airport Authority (SAA) has announced a series of fee hikes, including a $130 increase in air travel costs. The proposed changes—still pending confirmation—would impact departure tax, aviation security fees, parking fees, and VIP terminal charges.
New Charges Breakdown:
- Departure Tax: Increased from $65 to $100 (+53.85%)
- Aviation Security Fee: Jumped from $5 to $100 (+1900%)
- Parking Fee: Raised from $5 to $10 (+100%)
- Overnight Parking: From $10 to $20 (+100%)
- VIP Terminal Entry: Increased from $100 to $115 (+15%)
- VIP Terminal Fee (Children under 12): From $25 to $28.75 (+15%)
The Samoa Airport Authority (SAA) held public consultations to inform citizens of these increases, which are set to add a significant burden to travelers. The parking fee has already been raised to $10, while other changes will take effect soon after confirmation.
Why the Increases?
SAA CEO Tumanuvao Evile Falefatu defended the hikes by referencing the 2012 SAA Act, which mandates periodic fee adjustments to support airport and aviation security upgrades. According to Falefatu, the fee increases are essential to developing Samoa’s airport infrastructure, similar to practices in countries like New Zealand.
“Change is necessary for development,” Falefatu said. “We must modernize our facilities and systems to match international standards.”
Public Response:
Despite these justifications, the public’s response has been overwhelmingly negative. Many Samoans are particularly concerned about the drastic rise in departure taxes and the aviation security fee, which will collectively add $130 to the cost of air travel. For regular flyers, the steep hikes in parking and VIP terminal fees have also raised concerns, with some travelers considering alternatives to avoid the additional expenses.
“The rise in parking fees means I’ll have to say goodbye to my family outside the terminal,” said one frequent flyer during a public consultation meeting. “It’s becoming more expensive just to get into the airport.”
Many attendees expressed frustration at the timing of the announcements. Notably, the new parking fees were implemented before any official public consultation, which SAA CEO Tumanuvao Falefatu defended as not legally required under the 2012 SAA Act.
What’s Next?
While the proposed fee hikes are not yet official, the SAA has indicated that they will be implemented soon. The changes are expected to significantly impact air travel affordability for local residents and may influence the number of international tourists visiting Samoa.
Samoans and businesses are now awaiting confirmation on when the new charges will go into effect, as well as whether further public consultations will be held before they are finalized.
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