Mandarin Air reports slight drop in load factor

Taipei-based Mandarin Airlines yesterday reported a slight drop in passenger haul from Taiwan last month compared with traffic figures recorded in July, primarily because August is a traditionally off-peak period.

Mandarin Airlines Saipan Station Manager Charlie Ling said the carrier was dispatching its twice-per-week flight between Saipan and Taipei with an average 87 percent load factor in August, lower than the previous month’s 91 percent.

“August is traditionally a ghost month. We have always anticipated a moderate drop in passenger traffic from Taiwan to any tourist destination during this period,” Mr. Ling told an interview.

He pointed out that the airline company expects passenger haul to pick up again beginning November up until February, or during the Christmas season and the Chinese New Year, and then again during the summer months.

In fact, Mr. Ling mentioned that Mandarin Airlines may be able to increase flights to Saipan when three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft purchased by its parent company, China Airlines, arrive in January and February of next year.

He said Mandarin Airlines may deploy an additional flight per week by then, which should bring the number of Saipan arrival by the carrier to three per week.

But he promptly added that everything is still under evaluation although Mandarin Airlines has registered an increasing load factor during the first few months of its operations in the Northern Marianas.

Travelers from Taiwan have slowly made themselves known as the next most important market for the CNMI tourism industry as the Taipei-based carrier reported that it has exceeded the 80 percent load factor target in the first four months of its flight services to the island.

The carrier reported the highest load factor in July that reached 91 percent. Mr. Ling disclosed increasing passenger haul with its 73 percent load factor in May growing to 87 percent the following month.

Mr. Ling also mentioned that Mandarin Air has scheduled to deploy 69 flights until the end of the year, while raising hopes the carrier might be able to increase its flight services to Saipan.

Mr. Ling is confident more travelers from Taiwan will find the Northern Marianas as a prime destination especially when promotional efforts are intensified through cooperation from both CNMI and Taiwan organizations and tour agents.

While Taiwanese travelers have a variety of choices when it comes to resort destinations, Mr. Ling said Saipan holds the distinction of still being in touch with nature, of having rich and diverse cultures, and of providing the quality of public safety measures.

The Northern Marianas has great potentials to lure travelers from Taiwan because of the islands’ wide variety of attractions that range from water sports at the Saipan’s blue beaches to the casino gaming activities on Tinian and Rota’s natural landscape.

With the beginning of direct air service between Taipei and Saipan, Commonwealth officials are expecting to get a good share of over five million Taiwanese who take overseas travels once every year.

At least one in every four Taiwanese travel abroad every year although mainland China has remained the most popular destination in recent years. The island-nation, which is home to over 22 million people, has one of the best standards of living in the world.

Mandarin Air uses B737-800 aircraft in all of its charter flights between Taipei and Saipan. The aircraft can accommodate 158 passengers.

The airline company is confident that it will be able to bring in at least 118 people per flight to the CNMI. It has pledged to deploy 96 flights from Taipei to Saipan on its first year.