Samoa's Minister of Tourism, Misa Telefoni says a full time representative will be appointed in American Samoa to promote the Air New Zealand weekly flight from Apia to Los Angeles.
Air New Zealand had asked the governments of Samoa and Tonga to subsidize the flight or it would've been cut to save money.
The New Zealand government last week agreed to subsidize the weekly flight for one year.
An agreement to this effect was signed last week in Apia between Misa and New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully.
Samoa for its part has assured the New Zealand Government that it will do all it can to promote the Apia-Los Angeles-Apia flight.
Misa has told the Samoa Observer that Samoa will appoint a full time representative in American Samoa to encourage them to fly via Apia to the US mainland, rather rely on the Hawaiian Air link.