Passengers Frustrated with Air New Zealand’s Lack of Advice on Cancelled 1am Flight

January 10, 2026

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Passengers were left stranded at Faleolo International Airport after an Air New Zealand flight scheduled to depart for Auckland at 1:00am Friday 10 January was cancelled without prior notice.

Passengers had all arrived at the airport for a 1am flight before they were advised it was cancelled, and rescheduled to 4;20pm – a delay of 15 hours.

Passengers from Savaii and Samoa’s rural areas as far as Aleipata, had come all the way to the airport for the late night flight.

Most of them had food parcels and their umu boxes were already sealed, before the announcement was heard over the airport loud speakers.

“Why couldn’t they advise us earlier today so we dont have to come to the airport?” one passenger asked in frustration.

“If the flight didn’t leave Auckland 4 hours ago, then they would have known our flight was cancelled, but made no effort to advise us. Do they do that to passengers on their other routes? Or just Samoa?”

The Announcement:

The Air New Zealand announcement was made after 11pm, advising passengers that their flight had been rescheduled to 4.20pm Friday – a delay of over 15 hours.

Frustrated passengers said they had received emails from Air New Zealand at the same time as the announcement – after 11pm – but they were already at the airport standing in line to check in.

“The ground check-in staff were nowhere to be seen.. so they must’ve known there was no flight..”

One passenger said he was told the delay was caused by a flight that had gone to Fiji, but the plane needed repairs and was not cleared to depart.

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“Fai mai o le vaalele sa alu i Fiki, ae alu atu leaga ai i ō ..”

Another angry passenger told SGN she inquired about food vouchers, and was told she should purchase food, then keep the receipts and wait until they arrive in Auckland to be reimbursed.

“But there was no explanation as to how much we should spend, or who we give the receipt to, or how that’s all supposed to work.. it sounds like they’re just making that all up …”

“Fai mai se’i taunuu atu i Niu Sila ona tuuina atu lea o lisiti e reimburse..ae e iloa atu lava ua na o se tala e faafilemu ai..”

Air New Zealand flights to Samoa during the busy festive holiday season have been serviced by Wamos Air.

Wamos is a Spanish charter airline specialising in wet leasing. Air New Zealand are using them for the Fiji and Samoa routes. They have provided much older aircrafts and a crew with limited English and no Samoan language for Samoa’s travelling public.

Vacancy