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Total 1 airports of NSMA

MXS Maota Airport
Maota Airport (IATA: MXS, ICAO:NSMA) is located in the the city of Maota, Western samoa. It is the primary international airport serving Maota and its surrounding metropolitan area. Phone Number :+6857262867

Show details

IATA Code

MXS

ICAO Code

NSMA

Name

Maota Airport

Type

Main Airport

Country / Region

Western samoa (WS)

City

Maota

Latitude

-13.7423000

Longitude

-172.2579956

Time Zone

UTC+13:00

Phone Number

+6857262867

Est. Unit Price

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Airport Overview

Maota Airport (MXS)

Maota Airport is a small regional and domestic airport serving Savai'i, Samoa, near Maota and Salelologa on the island's eastern side. It is located close to the Salelologa township and ferry terminal, making it relevant to island-to-island logistics rather than long-haul cargo consolidation. The airport has a short sealed runway, an open-style passenger terminal and daylight-only operating limitations because runway lighting is not available according to the supplied airport profile. Our service team treats Maota Airport as a controlled regional gateway: cargo acceptance, aircraft suitability, customs handling and uplift must be confirmed for each shipment before booking.

Airport	Maota Airport
Codes	IATA: MXS \| ICAO: NSMA
Location	Maota, Samoa; near Salelologa on Savai'i
Coordinates	13.742300° S, 172.257996° W
Time zone	UTC+13:00
Operational profile	Regional domestic airport; daylight operating constraints and small-aircraft suitability

Key Highlights

What Forwarders Should Assess First

Island logistics gateway: Maota Airport primarily supports Savai'i access and should not be treated as a scheduled international cargo hub.
Small-aircraft constraint: The short runway limits aircraft and shipment planning; oversized, heavy or high-density cargo requires advance carrier confirmation.
Daylight dependency: Lack of runway lighting can affect late-day acceptance, uplift and recovery planning.
Ferry connectivity: The airport's proximity to Salelologa ferry terminal creates a practical multimodal alternative for cargo moving between Upolu and Savai'i.
Limited cargo infrastructure: Dedicated cargo, temperature-controlled and dangerous-goods capabilities must be verified for the specific movement rather than assumed.

Cargo Facilities & Services

Facility Planning for Regional Shipments

Acceptance and handling

Our team will verify whether the intended operator accepts commercial cargo, the applicable acceptance window and the aircraft's payload or dimensional limits. Passenger-terminal space should not be interpreted as a dedicated freight warehouse.

Customs and entry formalities

The airport profile identifies Maota Airport as a customs port of entry. Customs availability, inspection arrangements and release timing remain subject to current local procedures and shipment documents.

Temperature-controlled cargo

Do not assume refrigerated rooms, active container power or pharmaceutical handling equipment. For chilled, frozen or time-sensitive cargo, our service team will obtain written confirmation and prepare a contingency route.

Dangerous goods and special cargo

Dangerous-goods acceptance, lithium-battery restrictions, live animals, valuables and oversized pieces require advance approval. Availability of specialized storage or screening must be checked shipment by shipment.

Routes & Transit Times

Routing and Connectivity

Our team normally evaluates a routing through Samoa's principal international gateway on Upolu, followed by a confirmed domestic air connection or an island-sea/ferry transfer to Savai'i. The final option depends on cargo type, sailing availability and current airline schedules.
Domestic uplift may be operated with small passenger aircraft when services are available; aircraft type, payload, cargo acceptance and operating days must be reconfirmed before issuing a booking.
There is no basis to promise a fixed transit time or routine direct international cargo service through Maota Airport. Daylight-only operations, weather, aircraft payload and ferry coordination can materially change the delivery plan.
For urgent shipments, our service team compares air-to-air transfer, air-to-ferry transfer and delivery via the main island before selecting the most reliable route.

Transit estimates are quotation-specific and begin only after carrier acceptance, customs readiness and the connecting movement have been confirmed.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Savai'i Distribution Profile

Primary hinterland: Maota, Salelologa and other communities across Savai'i, with onward distribution commonly requiring local road transport or a ferry-linked delivery plan.
Likely commercial flows: General consumer goods, retail replenishment, spare parts, documents, small e-commerce consignments and urgent business supplies may be suitable subject to aircraft acceptance.
Island-produced goods: Agricultural and marine products may require prior confirmation of packaging, sanitary documentation, export controls and any temperature requirement.
Project and service cargo: Maintenance parts and essential equipment should be checked for dimensional, weight and handling limitations before dispatch.

Operations & Compliance

Practical Controls Before Tender

Cut-off: A public universal cargo cut-off should not be assumed. Our team obtains the operator's acceptance time and builds in time for screening, weighing, documentation and daylight limitations.
Documentation: Prepare a correct commercial invoice, packing list, shipper and consignee details, commodity description, customs data and any permits required for food, plant, animal or controlled goods.
Dangerous goods: Batteries, aerosols, chemicals, dry ice and other regulated articles require correct classification, packing, marking, labelling and a carrier acceptance decision under the applicable dangerous-goods rules.
Delivery and inspection: Customs examination, limited handling resources, weather disruption and local collection constraints can extend release time. The consignee should be ready with identification, authority and a practical vehicle plan.

Shipping Tips

Recommended Booking Approach

Send our service team the cargo dimensions, gross weight, piece count, commodity, value, battery content and required delivery point before requesting a rate.
Use compact, lightweight packaging with clear piece identification; split dense or oversized consignments where the aircraft payload profile requires it, subject to carrier approval.
For perishables or temperature-sensitive goods, use validated packaging and define the acceptable temperature excursion. Do not tender without confirmation of cool storage and transfer arrangements.
Keep a ferry or mainland routing as a contingency for weather, aircraft payload restrictions or unavailable domestic uplift. Our team can compare the alternatives against the shipment's delivery priority.

FAQs

Maota Airport Freight Questions

Can Maota Airport receive international air cargo directly?: It is identified as a customs port of entry, but that does not establish regular international cargo flights. Our team confirms the actual carrier, routing, customs availability and aircraft acceptance for each shipment.
Is there a guaranteed daily cargo service?: No fixed daily frequency should be assumed. Domestic operations, if available, may depend on aircraft, daylight, weather and passenger-service schedules.
Can we ship dangerous goods or lithium batteries through Maota Airport?: Only after classification and written carrier approval. Acceptance can be restricted by aircraft type, packaging, quantity, documentation and connecting segments.
Are refrigerated or pharmaceutical shipments routinely supported?: Routine cold-chain capability should not be presumed. Our service team checks equipment, storage, transfer exposure and the complete route before accepting the booking.
What is the best alternative if air uplift is unavailable?: A ferry-linked solution between Upolu and Savai'i may be considered, with road delivery to the consignee. The choice depends on sailing schedules, customs status, cargo sensitivity and required delivery date.

Data Sources & Provenance

Reference Scope

This module uses the supplied Maota Airport profile for the airport name, codes, location, coordinates, time zone, customs-port description, terminal profile, runway-use characteristics and historical operational notes. Operational capabilities, schedules, cut-off times, aircraft acceptance, customs staffing and special-cargo services are variable and must be reconfirmed with the carrier and local authorities before shipment.

For independent aviation-code and regulatory reference checks, our service team may consult iata.org and icao.int. These domains are reference sources only; they do not constitute confirmation of a current flight schedule, cargo facility, handling contract or shipment acceptance at Maota Airport.