The Airport Authority Cook Islands (AACI) is open and ready to assist Samoa, which is hosting the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia this week.

Delegations from 56 countries have converged on the island for a series of side meetings and forums throughout the week, before the Heads of Government meeting itself on Thursday (Cook Islands time).

An influx of aircraft and private jets is anticipated as leaders from member countries arrive.

Samoa’s Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Olo Fiti Vaai, earlier told Cook Islands News that neighbouring international airports, including the Cook Islands’, will assist Faleolo International Airport in Apia with the anticipated influx of aircraft and private jets this week.

Nikau Tangaroa, the chief executive officer of AACI, said there have been no requests so far from Samoa for assistance with airport parking space.

Tangaroa said that despite this, they will be on standby to assist Samoa if help is needed.

“So far, there has been no requests from Samoa for that but we are open and happy to assist Samoa through that area if needed, in terms of parking space,” he said.

“Of course, we have to look at some stuff and it all depends on our operations as well but we can help if needed.”

The Samoan Minister earlier stated that they were expecting a lot of aircraft to bring in the delegates for CHOGM, adding that Faleolo International Airport could not accommodate all the anticipated aircraft and private jets.

Meanwhile Cook Islands is not attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting because the country has not been invited.

In August, Prime Minister Mark Brown told Cook Islands News that “… we’re not regarded as part of the Commonwealth so we will not be attending”.

The Commonwealth of Nations is an organisation of countries, most with a shared history as part of the former British Empire. There are currently 56 members within the Commonwealth, but the Cook Islands, which has the King of the United Kingdom as Head of State, is not one of them.

Cook Islands, along with Niue, is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, a member country of the Commonwealth.