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Korean Air to resume service in July
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Posted on May 31 1999
Korean Airlines may begin its Seoul-Saipan direct flight by July as soon as it has taken corrective measures to resolve some safety issues and given approval by the Ministry of Transportation, according to Dave M. Sablan, board chairman of the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Sablan and managing director Perry J Tenorio recently met with Korean Air officials and discussed plans of the carrier in connection with the resumption of service in the CNMI.
Korean Air has hired Delta Airlines as consultant to help the airline in ensuring the safety of its carrier. Although it has yet to submit its application with Korea’s Ministry of Transportation, the airline may use a B747 in its planned daily Seoul-Saipan flight.
Arrivals from Korea have been increasing since last year as Asiana Airlines decided to provide daily flights to Saipan beginning July 21, 1999. Due to the increase in outbound travel from Korea, Asiana Airlines has decided to provide direct Seoul-Saipan service using a B767 six times a week since April 2, 1999. Earlier, Asiana’s daily B767 flight with 260 seats was shared by Guam and Saipan.
Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said Asiana’s decision to increase the frequency of flights to the Northern Marianas is a welcome relief to the shrinking tourism market.
Airline executives raised the possibility of providing charter flights from Pusan to Saipan because of the increasing honeymoon market there, Salas added. Korea projects the honeymoon market to increase continuously as some 400,000 couples are expected to get married this year.
