Torres: Delta remains committed to Marianas

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres joins Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion and other CNMI officials in a meeting with Delta Air Lines executives in Tokyo. (Contributed Photo)

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion announced yesterday that Delta Air Lines will remain committed to serving the CNMI.

After meeting with President Donald J. Trump in Honolulu over the weekend, Torres joined the MVA team in Tokyo for a meeting with Delta Air Lines executives.

Delta Air Lines has already indicated in a recent statement that it will be formally ending its Guam service effective Jan. 8, 2018. 

“I am proud to report that Delta remains committed to the CNMI. They have chosen to maintain their Narita-Saipan route as they see potential for growth with the economic development happening in the CNMI. They noted the several new hotel properties and the integrated casino resort set to open in the coming years. Chris and I reiterated our support for Delta, and we thanked them for their 28 years of service to the CNMI. We are very grateful for this continued partnership. This marks another milestone in the historic and cultural relationship between the Marianas and Japan,” Torres said.

Discussions during the Tokyo meeting included regional issues affecting travel, such as the increased competition from other destinations and the North Korea threat, Concepcion said.

“Delta brought up valid concerns surrounding the Asia-Pacific region, and we assured them that the Marianas stands committed to ensuring that it remains a safe and enjoyable destination. We talked about the possibilities for cargo service from Saipan to Japan, joint cooperative promotions between MVA and Delta, as well as the new aircraft Delta launched to Saipan beginning on Nov. 5 with 24 additional seats per day. We also discussed the possibility of flights from Osaka and Nagoya and other major cities in Japan to Saipan in the future should the demand increase,” Concepcion said.

Concepcion added that the CNMI will continue to give Delta Air Lines and the overall Japan market the support it needs to be successful.

“We realize the Japan market has been struggling the last several years, and we acknowledge that it is an uphill battle to bring arrival numbers back to acceptable levels. We assured Delta that our commitment to them is as solid as it has been for the past 28 years. We look forward to helping them grow their business in the CNMI for the next 28 years and beyond,” Concepcion added. (PR)