Samoa's minister of commerce has made a passionate plea to Samoans in Australia to support the country's new national airline, Samoa Airways.
Launching the airline's direct flights from Sydney to Apia, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell said Samoa Airways is in dire need of patriotic support.
He said if well supported the airline should be in a position at the end of its first year to acquire a second jet, allowing services to Brisbane, Melbourne, Wellington and Christchurch.
The minister said in two years a third plane was possible, and a fourth in five years, eventually building to a fleet of five aircraft.