Airline to provide Pampanga-Saipan charter flights

Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas welcomes move by Armenian Airlines to carry out charter flights from Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines to Saipan before the end of the year.

However, such plan still hinges on the approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation of the airline’s permit to operate in Saipan.

Armenian Airlines is expected to get the huge Filipino market on the island with its plan to offer cheaper airfare and more convenient schedule.

For many years, Continental Airlines has cornered a big chunk of the huge Filipino market despite its unfriendly schedule that makes them wait for at least three hours in Guam airport.

At the same time, CPA is set to meet with Aloha Airlines before the end of the year to convince officials to provide Saipan-Guam and Saipan-Honolulu flights, said Mr. Salas.

The Honolulu-based airline is planning to relocate two years from now and CPA officials are taking that opportunity to convince the company to begin its service at least early next year.

Aloha Air is currently flying direct Honolulu-Majuro using a B737.

CPA officials, led by Board Chair Roman S. Palacios and Mr. Salas, recently attended the Japan Association of Travel Agents Convention, the biggest gathering of tour operators in Tokyo, to woo various participating airlines to take advantage of the incentives offered by the ports authority.

In a move to increase visitor arrivals to the CNMI, the ports authority has widened the scope of its Airline Incentive Program by granting a 50 percent cut in enplanement and deplanement fees to any carrier that will develop new markets for the Northern Marianas.

Mr. Salas has earlier sent a letter to James King, Aloha’s vice president for planning and development, seeking an immediate meeting for the airline to start the service soon.

Under the incentive program approved by the CPA board, any signatory or new airline serving new markets between Saipan and new international destinations shall be given a 50 percent discount on all arrival and departure fees until Oct. 31, 2000.

CNMI officials are exerting all efforts to save the declining tourism economy as Continental Airlines has cut off all its direct flights to Saipan from various cities in Asia.