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Maota Airport

Welcome to Maota Airport! Savaii, is the other island of Samoa which has a small airport. It is located just five-minutes away from the ferry terminal in Salelologa. Maota Airport has seen passengers arriving form the early 90's. In 1997, it was upgraded as a customs port. Samoa Airways added this destination back in 2020 following some upgrades. Finally, you can take the trip to Savai'i and the breathtaking scenery and culture it has on offer.

Live Air Traffic

Welcome to Maota Airport! This is the primary domestic airport on Savai'i island in Samoa. It is located 10 minutes south of Salelologa, the main town and ferry terminal. This airport has been operational since the start of 1990s. In 1994 it received a tar-sealed runway and in 1997 a customs port. As of old, it had flights from Faleolo International Airport For and Asau Airport. Domestic flights, however, were halted prior to 2000. Samoa Airways restarted domestic flights in September following refurbishment in late 2020. Happy travels out of Maota Airport!

air Arrivals
air Departures

Basic information about airport

Airport code: NSMA
Type: small
Continent: OC
Country code: WS
Country: Samoa
City Maota
IATA: MXS
Longitude: -172.25799560546875
Latitude: -13.742300033569336

Maota Airport on Google Maps

metkaSamoa
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Maota Airport - The Primary Domestic Gateway To Savai'i, Samoa

Introduction

Maota Airport (IATA: MXS, ICAO: NSMA) is an airport on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. Close to Salelologa, the gateway town at the eastern end of Savai'i, this airport has connected the neighboring village of Peape (where our next property is located) with Mulinu'u and was first commissioned in Livingston, Texas (near Houston), where flights were operated for a SA 227 AC plane followed by an unknown number before being served as Location X until its closure. We'll check out the airlines and destinations, passenger numbers and flight stats as well as how to get in or around your transit through Maota Airport.

Airlines and Destinations

The main domestic airport Maota Airport (MXS) on the island of Savai'i, offers flights to and from Apia. Although in the past, domestic flights have operated to Faleolo International Airport on Upolu and Asau Airport at the northwest end of Savai'i, their operations were discontinued before 2000. In September 2020, Samoa Airways restarted flights on the domestic routes from Maota Airport to other parts of the country.

Passengers/Flights

Maota Airport (MXS) - only 700 Passengers per Year. The airport features a short runway suitable for Twin Otter and other small passenger aircraft, which is only used during daylight hours as there are no night lighting facilities. With zero data on flights and the fact that it is such a small airport with not much going through, I imagine there would be far fewer passengers than at bigger international airports.

How to Get Here

Maota Airport (IATA: MXS), located a ten-minute drive south of the Salelologa township and ferry terminal on Savai'i, has taxi services, car rentals, and public bus transportation available for passengers to get in and out of the airport via road.

Parking

Short-Term Parking: The short-term parking lot is east of the terminal building. The first two hours of parking are complimentary, and costs apply after that. For us, rates are $2.00 per 30 minutes with a maximum of $20.00 for the day.

Transportation Prices

The specific transportation prices to and from Maota Airport (MXS) will depend on the transport mode used as well as how far you travel. But for a general trip between Maota and Pisa, Italy, the flight duration is supposed to be 23 hours and 49 minutes.

Terminal Layout

The airport has a simple layout that involves an open-air fale (Samoan traditional building) as the domestic terminal. This terminal is easy to navigate, with clear signage and helpful staff on hand if required.

Navigate the Airport

The airport itself is pretty small, although it has a good number of personnel who are posted to assist passengers in finding their way around the terminal. Keeping the airport open-air and traffic-free brings a great quality of life for the travelers coming through; they can't get lost in this compact little thing.

Getting Between Terminals

Maota Airport (MXS) has a unique terminal building, offering direct point-to-point service to passengers with no need for them to transfer between terminals.

Services and Amenities

Maota Airport (MXS): A small passenger facility with a waiting area and restroom services. Due to its size and services, more extensive amenities like a restaurant or shop on-site, as well as a lounge, are not available.

Restaurants and Shops

These days, however, the airport is so small and has such limited operations that it doesn't even have any in-terminal restaurants or shops. There are dining and shopping options nearby in Salelologa township that passengers will need to explore.

Security and Customs

Maota Airport (MXS) is a domestic airport with no immigration and customs facilities. But it's still a port of entry subject to the same screening for terrorists and contraband baggage as other airports.

Accessibility

Maota Airport (MXS) is a smaller airport and does not offer an extensive list of accessibility features the way major international airports would. Still, the open-air and compact design of the air facility can make it one of the easiest for passengers with mobility issues to get around.

Travel Tips

Next time you are booking a trip through Maota Airport (MXS), follow these 5 travel hacks to ensure your next journey is all smooth sailing - or should we say flying?

  • Fly off-peak: If possible, schedule flights during slow periods so you will have fewer people to push through and less risk of delays.
  • Get to the airport early: Make sure you have enough time to navigate your way around the airport and go through any security or check-in procedures.
  • Travel light: As airport facilities are limited, less luggage equals a more efficient procedure.
  • Stay informed: Know about any updates or changes in the flight schedules or airport operations well in advance before leaving.

Remember these tips for a trouble-free visit through Maota Airport (MXS) to the island of Savai'i.