MSA raises airfare prices

The cost of the once budget-friendly interisland air service provided by Marianas Southern Airways has gone up exponentially following the termination of its contract with the CNMI government.

As of last week, following the termination of its contract with the CNMI government, Marianas Southern Airways started offering its services at three levels: frugal, friendly, and freedom.

However, even at MSA’s “frugal” level, one-way ticket prices are still double what they used to be prior to the cancellation of the contract.

“After having our agreement cancelled, we could no longer provide our services for the same price. We are now offering three levels of pricing as seen on our website,” said MSA vice president William Giles.

According to MSA’s website, a one-way ticket from Saipan to Guam now starts at $197 and goes up to $269. Previously, MSA offered one-way tickets from Saipan to Guam for $99. This means a round-trip ticket from Saipan to Guam now cost roughly $400, nearly as expensive, if not more, than United Airlines’ airfare.

Meanwhile, MSA’s Saipan to Rota flights now starts at $109 and can go up to $129 for a one-way trip. Previously, MSA offered the same service for as low as $89. At MSA’s “frugal” level, a round-trip ticket from Saipan to Rota now costs roughly $218.

Fortunately, thanks to MSA’s current promotion on flights from Saipan to Tinian, a one-way tickets costs $39 and can go up to $49. In addition to the current promotion, if you purchase a one-way ticket to Tinian on any level, you get a second ticket free.

In a separate statement from MSA president Keith Stewart, he said MSA still desires to work something out with the administration so it can continue to provide affordable interisland transportation to the Marianas.

“In an effort and desire to work something out with the government, I would like to respectfully decline to make a comment right now,” he said.

Last month, the CNMI administration terminated its $8-million contract with MSA, citing a lack of funding.

The situation has prompted a concerned citizen to start a petition to save not just MSA but other airlines as well, in the hope that enough signatures will encourage CNMI officials to sit down with these airlines to come to a resolution that will benefit the community as a whole.

If you are interested in signing the petition, you may visit: https://www.change.org/p/save-our-airlines-msa-asiana-others-flyts-to-the-rota-saipan-tinian-guam-overseas.

Following the contract termination, MSA announced that it hopes to work something out with the government as the worst-case scenario would be that the CNMI loses the airline.

As of last week, members of the CNMI community launched a petition to save MSA.
The petition has now reached over 1,000 signatures.