Frequently asked
- Which airlines fly direct to Samoa?
- Air New Zealand flies daily direct Auckland → Apia (about 4 hours). Fiji Airways serves Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, and Los Angeles via Nadi (NAN). Samoa Airways operates seasonal direct services between Auckland and Apia. Hawaiian Airlines runs a Los Angeles → Honolulu → Apia routing.
- What is the closest international airport to Apia?
- Faleolo International Airport (IATA: APW) is the only international airport in Samoa. It's on Upolu, about 35 km west of central Apia — a 40-minute drive on the cross-island road. Free hotel shuttles and taxis meet inbound flights.
- Are there direct flights from Australia to Samoa?
- Direct services from Sydney and Brisbane to Apia have been operated periodically by Fiji Airways and Virgin Australia, but most Australia → Samoa itineraries route via Nadi (Fiji) or Auckland. Travel time is typically 7–9 hours including the connection.
- How long is the flight from Auckland to Samoa?
- Around 4 hours direct on Air New Zealand. The route operates daily, with flights typically landing at Faleolo in the early afternoon to early evening Samoa time. Samoa is 1 hour ahead of New Zealand year-round.
- What's the time zone in Samoa?
- Samoa Standard Time is UTC+13. There is no daylight-saving time. Samoa is one hour ahead of New Zealand and three hours ahead of eastern Australia. The dateline runs west of Samoa, so Samoa shares a calendar day with New Zealand and Australia.
Schedule data is sourced from public airline timetables and aggregator feeds (Kalena verifies AKL ↔ APW monthly; the other three routes are estimated from the same sources, less actively verified). Always confirm operating days, times, and carriers with the airline before booking — Pacific schedules shift around public-holiday weeks and seasonal demand.
Travelling within Samoa? See Samoa travel info for visa, currency, ferry, and driving details.