South Pacific Island Airways

Not to be confused with South Pacific Air Lines that operated 1960–1963

South Pacific Island Airways (SPIA) was an airline operating flights in the Pacific including American Samoa and Hawaii with service to the west coast of U.S. and Canada as well as to Alaska, New Zealand, Guam and Tahiti from 1973 to 1987.^[3] The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the carrier in 1984, when it almost flew a charter flight into the airspace of the Soviet Union.^[4][5] SPIA was allowed to continue operations after some management changes were made at the airline, but was grounded again in 1985 due to some allegedly questionable dealings involving engine hush kits for its Boeing 707 jetliners. South Pacific continued to operate limited services until it ceased all operations in 1987.

South Pacific Island Airways

IATA ICAO Call sign HK SPI[1] SOUTH PACIFIC
Founded	1973; 52 years ago (1973)
Ceased operations	1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Hubs	Pago Pago International Airport Honolulu International Airport
Focus cities	Pago Pago, American Samoa Apia, Samoa Hagåtña, Guam
Fleet size	8
Destinations	18
Headquarters	Honolulu, Hawaii, United States[2]
Key people	George Wray (CEO)

Former destinations

South Pacific Island Airways served these destinations during its existence primarily flying Boeing 707 jet aircraft although small de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops were used for feeder service as well:^[6][7]

Canada

• Vancouver, British Columbia – Vancouver International Airport

Fiji

• Suva – Nausori International Airport

Tahiti

• Papeete – Fa'a'a International Airport

Tonga

• Nuku'alofa – Fua'amotu International Airport
• Lifuka – Lifuka Island Airport (Salote Pilolevu Airport)
• Neiafu – Vavaʻu International Airport (Lupepauʻu Airport)

New Zealand

• Auckland, New Zealand – Auckland International Airport

Cook Islands

• Rarotonga – Rarotonga International Airport

Palau

• Koror – Roman Tmetuchl International Airport

Papua New Guinea

• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – Jacksons International Airport

United States

• Anchorage, Alaska – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
• Honolulu, Hawaii – Honolulu International Airport

American Samoa

• Pago Pago – Pago Pago International Airport
• Ofu-Olosega American Samoa – Ofu Airport
• Tau, American Samoa – Tau Airport

Guam

• Hagåtña – Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport

Northern Mariana Islands

• Rota – Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport
• Saipan – Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport
• Tinian – Tinian International Airport

Fleet

As its peak South Pacific Island Airways fleet included:^[2]

South Pacific Island Airways

Type	Number
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander	1
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter	3
Boeing 707	4

Accidents and Incidents

• On July 21, 1984, South Pacific Island Airways Flight 513, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter carrying 14 occupants, crashed upon landing at Tau Airport. While on final approach to the airport, the flight controls suddenly collapsed forward, and the nose of the aircraft pitched up. The Twin Otter then collided with a terminal building and a vehicle. One passenger died; the other 10 passengers and all 3 crew members survived. The investigation revealed that the elevator control cable was rusted, corroded, and broken due to inadequate inspection. The cable pulley in the area was also damaged. The corrosion of the control cable was worsened by the fact that the aircraft was operated in a humid and salty environment.^[8]

See also

• List of defunct airlines of the United States