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Continental eyes resumption of Nagoya-Saipan flight
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Posted on May 16 2000
Continental Airlines is planning to revive the Nagoya-Saipan direct service before the end of the year which tourism officials hope will signal the resumption of more direct flights from various destinations in Japan to the Northern Marianas.
Information gathered from Continental Airlines in Nagoya revealed that Continental may just carry out a direct flight four times a week effective Oct. 1, 2000 to Jan. 31, 2001 which will result in additional 2,790 seats.
Tim Nara, staff vice president of Continental Airlines in Nagoya relayed the information to a Marianas Visitors Authority official in Nagoya.
From Feb. 1, 2001 to March 31, 2001, Continental will increase the direct flights from four to seven per week. This means total seats from Nagoya per month will be at 4,810.
MVA Managing Director Perry John Tenorio would
not confirm the resumption of Continental direct flights from Nagoya to Saipan.
“This is a very pleasant and encouraging news and I think the hard work we have been doing to the market in the CNMI in Japan is finally reaping some results,” said Dave M. Sablan, board chair.
Mr. Sablan expressed hope that Continental will start resuming other flights from Japan to Saipan to ensure continuous increase in visitor arrivals.
Visitor arrivals on the island has continuously declined since the Asian crisis and the decision of Continental to terminate direct service from various destinations in Asia to Saipan has contributed to the slow recovery of the tourism economy.
Continental Airlines dropped its Nagoya-Saipan service on October 1, 1999, which tourism officials said hindered efforts to revive the island’s ailing tourism economy.
This left Japan Airlines and Northwest Airlines as the last remaining carriers that maintained direct service from key cities in Japan to Saipan.
Continental even claimed that its decision to terminate direct service to Saipan will not have any effect on the tourism industry.
