Air Pacific managing director John Campbell has announced it will introduce a new service between Apia and Honolulu starting in September.

The flight will begin operation on September 11 with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Mr Campbell said the new flight will add a third weekly Apia-Nadi service and will make travel throughout the South Pacific easier.

“For Samoans, access to Honolulu and the mainland United States will now be more affordable and convenient,” he said. “Air Pacific’s flights to Apia have been successful and the extension to Honolulu is important for both business and leisure travelers.

“We have a substantial presence in the region and are happy to be able to increase our services to Samoa.”

The new service will have eight seats in Tabua Business Class and 152 in Pacific Voyagers Class.

The route between Fiji and Samoa serves as an important link for government, business and students, as well as serving the tourism industry in the Pacific Islands.

Mr Campbell added the northbound schedule for the new flights provides excellent connections from Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Tonga and Suva. The southbound flights will provide easy connections back to Suva.

Air Pacific also operates non-stop flights from Nadi to Apia on Sundays and Tuesdays and from Nadi to Honolulu on Sundays.