“In making these changes, we have worked to minimise disruption, and affected customers will be re-accommodated on alternative services as close as possible to their original booking.”
Air New Zealand operates up to 12 flights each week between Auckland and Faleolo.
Samoans on social media expressed disappointment at the news, with several users highlighting the potential impact on the tourism industry.
The news follows last week’s announcement from Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar that “unprecedented” jet fuel prices have led to 1100 flights being cut.
The cuts, which affected about 44,000 customers, mainly involved regional routes.
“There are frequencies that are being reduced across almost every one of our domestic routes, and we’re looking at transtasman,” Ravishankar told Ryan Bridge TODAY.
Flights to the Pacific and to regional destinations such as Hokitika, Timaru and Taupō were less likely to be impacted, he said at the time.
Air New Zealand said the cancelled trips “represent 5% of our total domestic and international schedule and are mainly in lower-demand or off-peak times”.
“Affected customers will be contacted directly and will experience minimal disruption, with the majority travelling on the same day as their original booking.”
Last month, the Samoan government announced it would increase airport departure fees to $180 per passenger, drawing concern from airlines about rising travel costs.
International Air Transport Association’s Asia Pacific regional vice-president Sheldon Hee told the Herald: “The fee increases not only make it more expensive for tourists visiting Samoa, but also add to the travel cost burden of Samoan nationals, and the Samoan diaspora.”
Figures from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics show New Zealand accounted for 51.3% of all visitors to the country last year.
