# Virgin Samoa
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Samoa
> Source revision: 1339811770
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{{Short description|Samoan airline}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Virgin Samoa Limited
| logo = Virgin Samoa.png
| logo_size =
| image = ZK-PBF (16359725570).jpg
| image_size =
| IATA = VA
| ICAO = VOZ
| callsign = VELOCITY
| founded =
| commenced = October 31, 2005
(as ''Polynesian Blue'')
December 7, 2011
(as ''Virgin Samoa'')
| ceased = November 12, 2017
| aoc =
| hubs = [Faleolo International Airport](/source/Faleolo_International_Airport)
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer = [Velocity](/source/Velocity_Frequent_Flyer)
| alliance =
| subsidiaries =
| fleet_size = 1
| destinations = 4
| parent = {{nowrap|[Virgin Australia Holdings](/source/Virgin_Australia_Holdings) (49%)}}
[Government of Samoa](/source/Politics_of_Samoa) (49%)
[Grey Investment Group](/source/Grey_Investment_Group) (2%)
| traded_as =
| ISIN =
| headquarters = [Bowen Hills](/source/Bowen_Hills), [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane), Australia
| key_people = Mark Pitt ([CEO](/source/CEO))
| founder =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| profit =
| assets =
| equity =
| num_employees =
| website = [https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/airline-partners/virgin-samoa/ virginaustralia.com/samoa]
}}
'''Virgin Samoa''', formerly '''Polynesian Blue''', was the [flag carrier](/source/flag_carrier) of [Samoa](/source/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](/source/Virgin_Australia_Holdings) (49%), the [Government of Samoa](/source/Politics_of_Samoa) (49%) and [Grey Investment Group](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)'' 25 May 2017] Polynesian Blue took over the long-haul flights (those involving Australia or New Zealand), which were operated by [Polynesian Airlines](/source/Polynesian_Airlines). In December 2011, Polynesian Blue was renamed ''Virgin Samoa''. It ceased operations on 12 November 2017.
==History==
thumb|left|Polynesian Blue logo.
In 2005, [Virgin Blue Holdings](/source/Virgin_Australia_Holdings) signed an agreement with the [Government of Samoa](/source/Politics_of_Samoa) to operate a [joint venture](/source/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](/source/Polynesian_Airlines). The name ''Polynesian Blue'' was adopted in keeping with the Virgin Blue family of brands, which also included [Christchurch](/source/Christchurch) based [Pacific Blue Airlines](/source/Pacific_Blue_Airlines). Its first flight was on 31 October 2005, between [Apia](/source/Apia), [Auckland](/source/Auckland) and [Sydney](/source/Sydney).
[Pacific Blue Airlines](/source/Pacific_Blue_Airlines) changed its ICAO code from PBI to PBN to prevent air traffic controllers from confusing the I for a 1 in flight plans. This also applies to Virgin Samoa flights operated by [Virgin Australia](/source/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](/source/Boeing_737_Next_Generation) 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](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Samoa), [Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Radio_New_Zealand)'' 23 May 2017] The government proposes [Polynesian Airlines](/source/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|thumb|Polynesian Blue [Boeing 737-800](/source/Boeing_737-800) in 2005.]]
Before its cessation on 12 November 2017, Virgin Samoa operated scheduled passenger flights from Apia to Brisbane, Auckland and Sydney:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Country
!City
!Airport
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Australia||[Brisbane](/source/Brisbane)||[Brisbane Airport](/source/Brisbane_Airport)||
|-
|[Sydney](/source/Sydney)||[Sydney Airport](/source/Sydney_Airport)||
|-
|New Zealand||[Auckland](/source/Auckland)||[Auckland Airport](/source/Auckland_Airport)||
|-
|Samoa||[Apia](/source/Apia)||[Faleolo International Airport](/source/Faleolo_International_Airport)||{{Airline hub}}
|-
|}
==Fleet==
Virgin Samoa did not own any of its own aircraft. All flights were operated on behalf of Virgin Samoa by [Virgin Australia](/source/Virgin_Australia). One of their 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"
|+Virgin Samoa fleet
! rowspan="2" |Aircraft
! rowspan="2" |In service
! colspan="3" |Passengers
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
!style="width:20px;"|J
!style="width:20px;"|Y
!style="width:20px;"|Total
|-
|[Boeing 737-800](/source/Boeing_737-800)
|1
|8
|168
|176
|