Senate backs protest vs Continental

Saying it is a genuine disservice to the U.S. citizens of the Northern Marianas, the Senate yesterday voiced out its opposition against the application by Continental Micronesia to the federal Department of Transportation for the resumption of direct service between Guam and key cities in Japan.

The nine-member chamber instead backed the protest lodged earlier by Commonwealth Ports Authority with DOT against the airline’s decision to scrap direct international flights to and from Saipan.

CPA filed the protest in relation to the requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration as the Guam-based carrier had sought approval for resumption of regular flights to Sapporo and Sendai in Japan.

Ports authority officials said they could not support Continental’s application to renew those flights as its intention to operate five weekly Saipan-Guam-Sapporo and daily Saipan-Guam-Sendai services will not benefit the CNMI at all in terms of having direct flights from those Japanese cities.

The carrier does not have direct service to Saipan from other points, except Guam, since Continental treats both destinations co-terminals — a move that has angered CNMI officials due to its impact on the tourism industry that relies so much on non-stop airline service.

“The CNMI has suffered a precipitous economic tumble which continues to have a profound and lasting effect on the Commonwealth’s ability to function as a tourist destination or support its tourism-based economy,” according to a Senate resolution offered by Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes.

Senators maintained Guam and Saipan are separate destinations each deserving of its own direct service by Continental and treating them as co-terminals is a “genuine disservice” to CNMI people as well as a sign of failure by the U.S. government to fulfill its promise to help the island’s economy under the Covenant.

They also said that they would only support Continental’s application only after the DOT requires the carrier to resume direct service between Japanese cities and Saipan and when the Commonwealth is allowed to tap other airlines willing to provide that service.

Continental, the largest fleet serving the entire Western Pacific region, has always maintained that the elimination of direct service to Saipan is a business decision stemming from declining passenger haul as a result of the Asian economic crisis. (Benhur C. Saladores)