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Airlines add new flights for the holidays
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Posted on Dec 12 2004
Airlines are introducing additional flights in preparation for the increased number of passengers expected to be traveling to and from the islands during the holiday season.
Japan Airlines has been providing daily extra flights between Haneda and Saipan since Nov. 17, 2004 and will continue to do so until Jan. 3, 2005. The flights are serviced by Boeing 767 planes, which can accommodate 232 passengers each flight.
Because of high passenger demand, JAL upgraded the aircraft it is using for its Kansai-Saipan flights. On Dec. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11, JAL used Boeing 747 aircraft in flying the Kansai-Saipan route
The Boeing 747 seats about 400 persons—over 160 seats—more than the regular Boeing 767 aircraft.
There will also be extra flights between Nagoya and Saipan on Dec. 30 and between Narita and Saipan on Dec. 29 and 30.
On Dec. 16, Asiana Airlines will start additional flights to and from Seoul and Saipan. Asiana will operate three flights weekly—every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday—in addition to its current daily Seoul-Saipan flights.
The extra flights will be operated until Feb. 28, 2005, and will be serviced by an Airbus 322 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 177 passengers.
Last month, Continental Airlines introduced new non-stop flights to Saipan from Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Taiwan flights operate every Thursday and Sunday, while the Hong Kong flights every Tuesday and Saturday. Each service provides an additional 155 passenger seats to the CNMI per flight.
Continental also increased its flight frequency between Saipan and Manila last month, from two times a week to three times a week. Manila flights now operate every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Agnes E. Donato)
