Previous Story
Salas off to U.S. for talks on airport, harbor projects
|
Posted on May 16 2000
Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas flew to the mainland United States to meet with federal aviation and transportation officials to discuss concerns faced by the CNMI’s air and sea transport facilities.
Mr. Salas is also expected to bring up the Commonwealth’s complaints on the decision of Continental Micronesia to eliminate all international direct flights to Saipan during a meeting with airline executives in the firm’s Houston hub.
CPA Spokesperson Travis Coffman said the first leg of Mr. Salas’ week-long trip will kick off with a discussion on the Tinian and Rota airport runway projects with officials of the Federal Aviation Administration in Honolulu.
From Hawaii, Mr. Salas will proceed to Los Angeles for a meeting with other FAA officials where issues surrounding federal navigational aid to the Northern Marianas are expected to be brought up.
According to Mr. Coffman, Mr. Salas will also discuss CPA’s position on Continental’s application for a renewal of its authority to fly between Sendai/Sapporo and Guam/Saipan with U.S. Department of Transportation officials and airline executives.
A meeting has also been scheduled between the CPA official and Insular Affairs Director Danny Aranza. The discussion is expected to also focus on the CNMI’s air transport service dilemma.
The CNMI Legislature and CPA earlier brought to the Inter-Agency Group on Insular Affairs their concerns on Continental’s elimination of all direct international flights to Saipan.
Mr. Salas will also talk about the open skies agreement between the U.S. and Taiwan with federal transportation officials, as well as the Saipan airport traffic control tower contract with FAA officials in Washington.
Before he returns to the Northern Marianas, a meeting has been scheduled between Mr. Salas and officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a discussion on the Tinian breakwater.
