MVA waiting on response, hopeful on Jeju charter from Osaka

Marianas Visitors Authority is still waiting for a response from Jeju Air whether it will launch charter flights from Osaka directly to the CNMI—a move that could very well bring the Japan market back up.

MVA managing director Perry Tenorio said they are still waiting for a response from the budget airline whether Jeju Air will fly to either Guam or the CNMI out of Osaka.

“We were hoping that some decision would be made last week…but we have done our due diligence and we’ve had commitment from the hoteliers, financial commitments in MVA and travel partners in Osaka [for Jeju Air] to choose the CNMI,” Tenorio said.

MVA board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce earlier told Saipan Tribune that MVA offices in the CNMI, Japan, and Korea are working in close collaboration with hoteliers and Osaka travel agents to build a strong case for Jeju Air to launch a flight from Osaka to Saipan.

However, Jeju Air’s headquarters in Seoul, Korea, would make the final determination.

Pierce said MVA continues to reach out to other airlines, including low cost carriers, and is collaborating with Delta Air Lines and major Japanese travel agents to pick the market back up.

Securing low-cost carriers that will fly to the Commonwealth and adding more hotel rooms are key to boosting Japanese arrivals to the islands.

The Japan market has seen a precipitous decline in arrivals since Japan Airlines cancelled flights to the Commonwealth. The Japan market is expected to go down further, as Delta Air Lines will reduce its flights to Saipan this winter.

The lack of airlift to replace the loss of Japan Airlines service from Osaka and Narita and the loss of Delta Air Lines service from Nagoya means that CNMI arrival numbers from Japan have fallen steadily since then.

The Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in 2011 and the consumption tax hike in Japan in April 2014 also significantly impacted Japanese visitor numbers, reaching a low of 110,234 visitors to the CNMI last year.

MVA board member Jerry Tan asked Tenorio whether the Governor’s Office has issued a letter of support for MVA’s bid to lure Jeju Air to choose the CNMI for its Osaka charter.

Tenorio said the administration did and addressed it to the president of Jeju Air. MVA hopes that Osaka flights could be restored when Jeju Air makes its decision.