Cape Air customers hope for safety and reliability

Cape Air/United customers are hopeful the announcement of two planes for Cape Air’s Guam to CNMI route means more safety and reliability—but they’re keeping their fingers crossed.

Frustrated consumer Rose Hocog began a petition last year over the growing concerns on the mechanical and technical problems being encountered by Cape Air/United’s aircraft and its frequent cancellation of flights.

Hocog told Saipan Tribune yesterday that she would like to express her utmost appreciation to Delegate Gregorio Kilili C Sablan (Ind-MP) for his assistance in working with Cape Air/United to bring two planes to its Guam-CNMI route. Sablan broke the news Tuesday.

Hocog also thanked those who signed the petition and shared their frustration, and most especially to the Cape Air frontline employees who received and put up with customer complaints and dealt with their anger and frustration.

The recent development, although it is an improvement, only means that Cape Air will have two planes, Hocog said. “It doesn’t guarantee a safe and reliable service nor does it mean that we will get the kind of service we deserve for the amount they are charging.”

“I would like to know if the planes’ AC will be working, will it still leak when it rains, what the backup plan is should one of the planes break down again—these are not new planes so we expect that it will have issues again,” she said.

Another consumer, Ignacio Dela Cruz, is a recent graduate of the University of Guam and frequently flies between Guam and CNMI in his visits back home from college. He said he is glad that steps are being taken toward improving air travel here in the CNMI.

“When I went to Guam for my college graduation in May I was delayed both times I had to fly to Guam,” he said. “It was frustrating because I had a schedule to keep and the delay forced me to push everything back.”

“I was not the only passenger who had to travel to Guam for important matters. We waited for about two hours to get onto the plane and then once we were in the plane we had to wait an extra 30 minutes.”

“It was completely unbelievable—the horrible service we received—and to think the ticket costs an arm and a leg,” he said.

For students traveling to Guam and the CNMI during the summer and holidays, tickets average around $400.

“Now I hope there will be less delays and—with a miracle—airfare will lower a bit because Cape Air is the only airline that provides transportation for the Saipan and Guam route and their inadequate service has damaged our economy for several years now.”

Dela Cruz hopes another Cape Air plane will move the CNMI in a better direction for air travel.

Sablan first broke the news on his Facebook page. The Commonwealth Ports Authority on Tuesday confirmed that the second plan had arrived and was at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport and had to do flight tests before it flies.

No solid date on the second flight was available as of press time.

The Cape Air public affairs office did not provide a statement on the new development despite multiple requests.

On Tuesday, Sablan announced that the second airplane that went through required major maintenance arrived in Guam yesterday afternoon. “It will take about a week or so to remove the extra fuel tank they installed and to retrofit the airplane for passengers. After some testing, Cape [Air] will have two airplanes to service the Northern Marianas-Guam route.”