Continental to begin nonstop Saipan-Hong Kong flights

The Northern Marianas has received new help to attract Chinese tourists into the islands, with Continental Micronesia’s decision to begin new non-stop service between Saipan and Hong Kong.

Continental flight 909, which currently operates nonstop between Guam and Hong Kong, will operate from Guam to Hong Kong with a stop on Saipan beginning Nov. 1. On the return, Continental flight 910 will operate non-stop from Hong Kong to Saipan and continue on to Guam.

The Saipan-Hong Kong flights will operate Mondays and Fridays. The flights will be serviced by a next-generation Boeing 737-800, which can seat 189 passengers.

Flight time between Saipan and Hong Kong is approximately four hours and 45 minutes.

Continental flight 909 will depart Guam at 4:50pm, with an estimated arrival on Saipan at 5:35pm. From Saipan, CO909 will leave at 6:20pm, to arrive 9:15pm.

Continental flight 910 will leave Hong Kong at 10:05pm, to arrive on Saipan at 4:45am. The service will then depart Saipan at 5:30am and land on Guam at 6:10am.

The Saipan-Hong Kong service is among a number of service offerings to the CNMI that Continental is planning for this year.

Starting on Nov. 1, the airline will also increase to thrice weekly its nonstop service between Saipan and Manila.

Direct flights between Saipan and Taipei are scheduled to begin Nov. 3.

New Continental Connection commuter service, operated by Cape Air, between Guam and the CNMI began this summer.

“With the new routes we are planning, Continental will provide world-class, non-stop service to more destinations than any other carrier serving the CNMI,” said Continental Micronesia president and CEO Mark A. Erwin.

Marianas Visitors Authority data showed that the Hong Kong market registered low arrivals in fiscal year 2004.

As of last August, the Northern Marianas has received only 1,902 visitors from Hong Kong. With a monthly average of 172 visitors, FY2004 may not be able to equal the 2,373 visitor arrivals in fiscal year 2003. Last year was one of the lowest points for the tourism industry, with the SARS epidemic and the outbreak of war in Iraq.

Continental Micronesia is headquartered on Guam and operates a Pacific hub from the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport. A wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia offers more than 290 departures each week between 22 cities throughout the Pacific Rim, the Micronesian islands and Hawaii with a fleet of 13 next-generation Boeing 737 narrow-body and 767 wide-body aircraft.