Polynesian Blue (polynesianblue.com) (Pacific Blue Airlines) Boeing 737-8FE WL ZK-PBF (msn 33799) SYD (John Adlard) (renamed Virgin Samoa), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

The Government of Samoa (Apia) and joint venture partner, Virgin Australia group of airlines, today (December 7) unveiled a new brand and livery for the country’s national airline – Virgin Samoa.

According to the airline, “The new brand and aircraft livery delivers a fresh, contemporary and sophisticated look, consistent with its partner Virgin Australia but with a uniquely Samoan flavor; featuring elements such as a palm tree motif on the fuselage; the words “airline of Samoa” under the window line near the front doors; and a specially designed tatau pattern on the engines.

Samoan master tattooist, Tuifa’asisina Tulouena Sua, originally developed this unique design to represent the coming together of Polynesian Airlines and Virgin Australia to form Polynesian Blue. As we now move into an even brighter future together as Virgin Samoa we felt it important to include a respectful reference to our culture and our past”.

Virgin Samoa’s aircraft, named Tapu’itea, will enter into service in its new livery and with an upgraded interior the first quarter of the 2012 calendar year.

The launch of the Virgin Samoa brand comes at the same time as the airlines formerly known as Pacific Blue Airlines and V Australia adopt the Virgin Australia brand; merging what was three separate airline brands into a single consistent identity as Virgin Australia.

Top Copyright Photo: John Adlard. Please click on the photo for additional information.

Middle Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter. Boeing 737-8FE ZK-PBF (msn 33799) lands at Auckland in the new identity.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Virgin Samoa. The Virgin Samoa Boeing 737-800 will wear this distinctive tatau design around the engines.