Meeting with Continental spurs optimism for more flights

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial has expressed confidence over improved flight service by Continental Micronesia between the Northern Marianas and key Asian cities in light of increasing number of visitors to the island.

Buoyed by the outcome of a recent meeting with the airline’s representative, he also said a better relationship and more cooperative efforts are in the offing with the Guam-based carrier.

“We have discussed issues regarding flight service and we believe that Continental will be receptive and supportive of… reestablishing non-stop flights from Asia to the Commonwealth as well as increased frequency between Guam and Saipan,” the Speaker told reporters in an interview.

During the meeting last Wednesday, the House of Representatives spoke about the possibility of offering tax breaks and other incentives to the largest carrier in Micronesia in hopes to help sell the CNMI in Asia, its main tourism market, as well as to reduce airfares.

To further explore the plan, the House leadership is scheduled to meet with other executives of its parent company, Continental Airlines, in its headquarters in Houston as a sidetrip to their Washington D.C. visit next week.

Wally Dias, staff to the vice president of Continental Micronesia, has welcomed the move, adding that the Commonwealth and the airline must work together to promote the destination in Asian countries, particularly in Japan where its people have again begun to travel overseas in a sign of economic recovery.

According to Mr. Fitial, a “revived” relationship with the airline would result to more joint efforts in promoting the CNMI and in improving flight service.

“The numbers [tourists arrivals] appeared to be encouraging for their load factor and I believe that Continental is seeing that they will be getting competition from other airlines if they do not move or make their move now,” he added.

The Marianas Visitors Authority has recorded an increase of 11 percent in the latest tourism statistics compared a year ago when the CNMI was still reeling from the impact of the Asian currency crisis.

Relations between the CNMI and Continental have soured in the past three years following its decision to downscale its service to Saipan in the wake of the economic problems in the region.

The carrier had blamed declining passenger haul and rising operational costs in cutting down the nonstop service from prime Asian cities such as Tokyo, Hong Kong and Manila, but the CNMI government had criticized the decision which it maintained came without consulting local officials.

In the meantime, local officials have been negotiating with other international carriers to encourage them to establish or restore service to the CNMI, including Philippine Airlines which pulled out in 1993 after flying direct from Manila and Saipan for a few months.

Mr. Fitial disclosed a Taiwanese carrier is poised to inaugurate its twice-weekly direct flights between Saipan and Taipei by May in yet another effort to tap the growing market there.

Mandarin Airlines, a subsidiary of China Airlines, will begin providing the charter flights as part of its agreement with the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino. It will use B737-800, accommodating 158 passengers.

In addition, Mr. Fitial said they would be supporting the application of Armenian Airways to the U.S. Department of Transportation in D.C. during their trip. The carrier plans to fly direct from Saipan to Pampanga province in the Philippines.