Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Faleolo) has signed a five-year contract with Air Lease Corporation for the dry-lease of a single B737-9.

The agreement was signed in Samoa earlier this week and marks the state-owned airline's transition to operating its own aircraft.

According to the Samoa Observer, Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said the current B737-800, which is wet-leased from Neos Air via Icelandair, will be returned when the new B737 MAX 9 arrives.

The new aircraft will be configured with 16 Business Class seats and 173 seats in Economy Class, and will operate between Apia, Auckland International, Sydney Kingsford Smith, and Brisbane International.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that a second unspecified aircraft would arrive in June as previously highlighted.