Polynesian Blue Airlines has taken out an award at the CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation) Aviation Awards for Excellence 2006 held overnight in Singapore.

The airline, a joint venture between Virgin Blue Airlines and the Government of Samoa, took out the CAPA New Airline of the Year category which is awarded to the start-up airline that has made the most significant impact in the markets it operates and to the development of aviation in the region.

Polynesian Blue launched its affordable, high quality services from Australia and New Zealand to Samoa in October last year and turned a pre-tax profit of NZD $1.19 million (approximately 2.22 million Tala#) for the period 30 October 2005 to June 2006. It has also played a key role in stimulating tourism to the South Pacific destination of Samoa.

The CAPA Awards for Excellence recognise the high performers in the Asia Pacific Aviation industry and are based around criteria of innovation, influence and strategic leadership.

The Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, said, "The decision to enter in to a joint venture with Virgin Blue Group was an obvious one for the Government. The strong global brand combined with Virgin Blue's innovative leadership and successful track record in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific demonstrated to us that Polynesian Blue would deliver well beyond airline profitability. Significant growth in tourism and the Samoan economy has helped create new jobs and improved the quality of living for my people. We are honoured that our vision for Polynesian Blue has been acknowledged as the way of the future."

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, "The model we developed with the Government of Samoa was based around a mutual desire to create an airline that would offer long term stability and profitability as well as a tourism and economic stimulus. The launch of Poly Blue helped Samoa to compete with traditional South Pacific holiday destinations for its fair share of the tourism pie. There is no reason why this joint venture model couldn't be extended to other regions with the same successful results."

"Polynesian Blue has made an immediate impact on the tourism markets it serves, triggering double-digit demand. Strategically, it is another example of a pioneering new airline model that has important ramifications for our region - the cross-border joint venture. We congratulate them on being named CAPA New Airline of the Year," said Peter Harbison, Executive Chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.