Previous Story
MVA clarifies report on resumption of Nagoya-Saipan flight
|
Posted on May 17 2000
The Marianas Visitors Authority yesterday sought to clear earlier reports that Continental Airlines will revive the Nagoya-Saipan direct service.
Contrary to earlier reports, Continental is still reviewing its statistics before making a decision on whether or not it will resume direct service to the CNMI.
The airline dropped its Nagoya-Saipan service on Oct. 1, 1999 which tourism officials said hindered efforts to revive the ailing tourism economy. But Continental claimed that its decision to terminate direct flights to Saipan will not have any effect on the tourism industry.
An information gathered from Continental Airlines in Nagoya earlier claimed that Continental may just carry out a direct flight four times a week effective Oct. 1, 2000 to Jan. 31, 2001. This will jump to seven flights a week starting Feb. 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001, according to the MVA Nagoya official.
Tim Nara, staff vice president of Continental Airlines Nagoya relayed the information to an MVA official in Nagoya.
Visitor arrivals on the island has continuously declined since the Asian crisis and the decision of Continental to terminate direct service from various destinations in Asia to Saipan contributed to the slow recovery of the tourism economy.
Many Japanese travelers going to Saipan will have to wait for about an hour in Guam to be able to take another 30-minute flight to the Commonwealth. Japanese tour operators said such inconvenience has turned off many travelers to visit the CNMI.
