Virgin Samoa

{{Infobox airline

||airline =

|logo = Virgin Samoa.png

|logo_size = 250

|IATA = VA

|ICAO = VOZ

|callsign = VELOCITY

|bases = Faleolo International Airport

|founded = October 2005
(as Polynesian Blue)

|ceased = 12 November 2017

|parent = Virgin Australia Holdings (49%)
Government of Samoa (49%)
Grey Investment Group (2%)

|headquarters = Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Australia

|frequent_flyer= Velocity Frequent Flyer

|key_people = Mark Pitt, CEO

|fleet_size = 1

|destinations = 4

|website = [https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/airline-partners/virgin-samoa/ virginaustralia.com/samoa]}}

Virgin Samoa, formerly Polynesian Blue, was the flag carrier of Samoa.{{cite web |url=http://blog.virginaustralia.com/news/virgin-samoa-is-now-the-new-national-airline-of-samoa/ |title=Virgin Samoa Is Now The New National Airline of Samoa |date=7 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114233912/http://blog.virginaustralia.com/news/virgin-samoa-is-now-the-new-national-airline-of-samoa/|archive-date=14 November 2013}} It was owned by Virgin Australia Holdings (49%), the Government of Samoa (49%) and Grey Investment Group (2%). Polynesian Blue took over the long haul flights (those involving Australia or New Zealand) which were operated by Polynesian Airlines. In December 2011, Polynesian Blue was renamed Virgin Samoa. It ceased operations on 12 November 2017.

History

File:Polynesian Blue.svg

In 2005, Virgin Blue Holdings signed an agreement with the Government of Samoa to operate a joint venture airline. The announcement came after several months of detailed discussions between the two parties and involved the Samoan government and Virgin Blue joining forces to set up a new company to operate jet routes previously flown by Polynesian Airlines. The name Polynesian Blue adopted in keeping with the Virgin Blue family of brands, which also included Christchurch based Pacific Blue Airlines. Its first flight was on 31 October 2005, between Apia, Auckland and Sydney.

The airline was owned by Virgin Australia Holdings (49%), the Government of Samoa (49%) and Grey Investment Group (2%).[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/07/14/samoa.virginblue/ Virgin Blue picks up Samoa flights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003349/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/07/14/samoa.virginblue/ |date=3 December 2013 }} CNN 14 July 2005[http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-samoa-closure-puts-nonstop-flights-from-australia-in-doubt-20170523-gwb6ht.html End to Virgin Samoa deal puts non-stop trips in doubt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603082142/http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/virgin-samoa-closure-puts-nonstop-flights-from-australia-in-doubt-20170523-gwb6ht.html |date=3 June 2017 }} Sydney Morning Herald 25 May 2017

Pacific Blue Airlines changed its ICAO code from PBI to PBN to prevent air traffic controllers confusing the I for a 1 in flight plans. This also applies to Virgin Samoa flights operated by Virgin Australia. The ICAO code PLB (call sign: Polyblue) is currently reserved for the airline but not in use.

Virgin Blue Holdings rebranded its airlines under the new Virgin Australia name in 2011, later renaming itself Virgin Australia Holdings.{{cite news|title=Virgin Australia rebrands its Pacific carriers|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10771823|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=8 December 2011|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-date=8 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108010914/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10771823|url-status=live}} Polynesian Blue was rebranded Virgin Samoa and a new livery was unveiled for one of the Boeing 737-800s operated by Virgin Australia (NZ) - which features traditional Samoan tattoos on the engines, designed by Tuifa’asisina Tolouena Sua. Cabin crew uniforms were also redesigned to feature the new imagery.{{cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/12/polynesian-blue-to-become-virgin-samoa/|title=Polynesian Blue to become Virgin Samoa|author=Mike Gisick|date=7 December 2011|publisher=Australian Aviation|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-date=14 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114064312/http://australianaviation.com.au/2011/12/polynesian-blue-to-become-virgin-samoa/|url-status=live}}

In 2015, Virgin Australia decided to relinquish its New Zealand Air Operators Certificate with all New Zealand registered aircraft, including the Virgin Samoa branded aircraft, transferred to the Australian register.{{cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/03/virgin-completes-transfer-of-nz-737s-onto-australian-aoc/|title=Virgin completes transfer of NZ 737s onto Australian AOC|date=19 March 2015|publisher=Australian Aviation|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=29 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329201109/http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/03/virgin-completes-transfer-of-nz-737s-onto-australian-aoc/|url-status=live}}

In May 2017, the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, wrote to Virgin Australia advising of the government's intention to withdraw from the joint venture.[http://sobserver.ws/en/18_05_2017/local/20071/Govt-drops-Virgin.htm Govt drops Virgin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521184831/http://sobserver.ws/en/18_05_2017/local/20071/Govt-drops-Virgin.htm |date=21 May 2017 }} Samoa Observer 18 May 2017 This followed two years of the government's unhappiness that Samoan customers and government were not obtaining enough of the benefits from the joint venture.[http://sobserver.ws/en/19_05_2017/local/20115/PM-defends-axing-of-Virgin.htm PM defends axing of Virgin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521073013/http://www.sobserver.ws/en/19_05_2017/local/20115/PM-defends-axing-of-Virgin.htm |date=21 May 2017 }} Samoa Observer 19 May 2017 Virgin Australia later confirmed that services would cease on 12 November 2017.[http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/331339/virgin-australia-mulling-over-next-step-in-samoa Virgin Australia mulling over next step in Samoa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522193852/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/331339/virgin-australia-mulling-over-next-step-in-samoa |date=22 May 2017 }} Radio New Zealand 23 May 2017 The government proposes Polynesian Airlines resume operating long-distance flights[http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/330907/samoa-poised-to-end-joint-venture-with-virgin Samoa poised to end joint venture with Virgin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527125532/http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/330907/samoa-poised-to-end-joint-venture-with-virgin |date=27 May 2017 }} Radio New Zealand 16 May 2017 while Virgin Australia commenced operating services to Samoa on 13 November 2017 in its own right.[https://web.archive.org/web/20171106035801/https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/media/2017/VA-CONFIRMS-FLY-SOMOA/ Virgin Australia confirms plans to fly to Australia] Virgin Australia 1 September 2017

Destinations

File:Boeing 737-8FE, Polynesian Blue AN0964564.jpg' Polynesian Blue liveried Boeing 737-800 (ZK-PBF, Tapu'itea) in November 2005]]

Before its cessation on 12 November 2017, Virgin Samoa operated scheduled passenger flights from Apia to the following destinations:

class="wikitable sortable" !Country !City !Airport
Australia	Brisbane	Brisbane Airport
Australia	Sydney	Sydney Airport
New Zealand	Auckland	Auckland Airport

Fleet

File:Virgin Samoa 737.jpg wearing the last livery]]

Virgin Samoa did not own any of its own aircraft. All flights were operated on behalf of Virgin Samoa by Virgin Australia International Airlines. One of Virgin Australia's Boeing 737-800 aircraft was painted in Virgin Samoa livery and named Tapu I'Tea.{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-737/vh-yid/vhyid.html|title=VH-YID. Boeing 737-8FE. c/n 38709-3851.|publisher=Aussie Airliners|access-date=5 March 2015|archive-date=11 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411030032/http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-737/vh-yid/vhyid.html|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable"

!Aircraft

!In Fleet

!Orders

Boeing 737-800

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