NMA: Over 47K Aussie visitors estimated in Phase 1

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, right, poses with Northern Pacific Airways CEO Rob McKinney, standing left, and Cabinets officials at the introduction of Northern Marianas Airways’ Boeing 757-200 aircraft last month. (MARK RABAGO)

If Northern Marianas Airways’ plans go forward, they’re looking at a capacity of over 47,000 seats from three weekly flights from Australia.

During a recent tour on Saipan of a Boeing 757-200 aircraft—the type that NMA plans to use—an information sheet from NMA indicated that they’re looking at 47,060 seats from Australia for Phase 1 if its planned operation of two flights per week from Brisbane and three flights per week from Sydney is realized.

The new airline is also looking at bringing in exactly the same passenger load from South Korea in Phase 2 for five flights per week from Seoul, while Phase 3 targeting Japan is more ambitious, with exactly 65,884 seats available for seven flights per week.

“The commencement of Northern Marianas Airways’ services from the CNMI will deliver significant airline seat capacity to drive tourist arrivals,” the CNMI-based carrier said.

The “Fast Fact” sheet provided also contends that “island sun holiday destinations, which boast the service of a national or island-based airline are showing significant tourist arrival recovery.”

For instance, tourism arrival recovery for Seychelles (96.8%), Maldives (92.3%), Mauritius (80.9%), and Fiji (80.8%) all have shown significant upswing in July, August, and September this year compared to 2019 numbers.

All four have one thing in common: they all have national airlines—Air Seychelles for Seychelles, Maldivisan for Maldives, Air Mauritius for Mauritius, and Fiji Airways for Fiji.

“Many island sun destinations have enjoyed a strong tourist arrival recovery following extended periods of border closure, lockdowns, and enforced quarantine requirements. …The introduction of a home-based airline will rapidly improve the post-COVID-19 recovery of tourist arrivals which currently sits at 22.6%,” according to NMA.

MP Enterprises president Keith Stewart earlier said that Northern Marianas Airway is expected to directly and indirectly inject $400 million to the CNMI economy.

“From jobs and economic benefits just with the two planes, we’re looking at $400 million in benefits to the CNMI. …There’s no other business that we could come up with that will have as far-reaching positive impact into this economy as having a home-based airline…” he said.

MP Enterprises is the parent company of NMA and Stewart’s earlier inter-airline venture, Marianas Southern Airways.

Stewart said he is eyeing a first quarter implementation of Phase 1 of the fledgling airline’s plans.

“The airline will contribute to the recovery of the local economy by supporting accommodation and tourism industry providers with a new source of tourists while helping those from Australia, Japan, and Korea explore the CNMI,” added NMA.