The Virgin Australia group of airlines has become a partner in creating a new brand and livery for Samoa’s national airline.
The former name Polynesian Blue is being replaced by Virgin Samoa with aircraft due to enter service in a new livery and an upgraded interior in the first quarter of the 2012.
The launch of Virgin Samoa comes at the same time as the airlines formerly known as Pacific Blue and V Australia adopt the Virgin Australia brand, merging three separate airline brands into a single consistent identity as Virgin Australia.
Samoa prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said: “Our vision when entering our Polynesian Blue joint venture in 2005 was to create a national airline that would be financially strong and that would provide growth opportunities and financial stability for our country. We have achieved these goals.
“Today our vision is to bring a new level of service and style to our guests as we partner in the evolution of Virgin Australia.
“This name and branding provides a new level of professionalism for our national airline, a new style of which the people of Samoa can be proud.”
The carrier’s CEO Mark Pitt said: “I am confident our new brand, working with the strength of our airline partners, will significantly raise our profile with travellers all over the world, and that over time this will contribute to growth in passenger volume.
“The significance of this change cannot be understated in terms of the lift it will give to the airline’s future. More importantly, the new Virgin Samoa name and aircraft livery will increase the airline’s visibility in the eyes of local Samoans and those living abroad, as Samoa’s national flag carrier.”