Once runway job is completed Rota expects resumption of Continental flights

Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona is raising hopes Continental Micronesia will resume regular flights to the island once rehabilitation work of Rota International Airport’s runway is completed by middle of next year.

Mr. Manglona made his expectations public Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the $3-million runway rehabilitation project, attended by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, Ports Authority Board Chair Roman S. Palacios and Executive Director Carlos H. Salas.

The mayor said Continental Micronesia assured him that its decision to suspend flights to and from Rota was only temporary, and that air transport service to the island will be resumed as soon as the runway repair is completed.

“Now that they know our runway is being repaired, they should prepare to serve the people of Rota. [Continental Micronesia] should make good on [its] promise,” he told expectators and guests to the groundbreaking rites.

Construction of the Rota International Airport runway is expected to kick off in January 2001 by Nippon Hodo Construction Limited which offered to undertake the project at a cost of $2.79 million. The winning bid includes remarking, regrooving and rehabilitation works at the island’s airport runway.

The Rota International Airport runway rehabilitation is financed through the Capital Improvement Project funds with up to $450,000 in appropriation from the Federal Aviation Administration’s airport improvement plan.

While the use of the money has already been approved, CPA is awaiting authorization from the Department of the Interior and the official grant notification from the FAA.

Mr. Manglona said fast-tracked completion of the Rota International Airport’s runway would provide the needed boost to the island’s tourism industry, thereby, allowing the growth of its sleepy economy.

Mr. Manglona emphasized that prospects are bright for the island’s economic program which is not expected to take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.

The project, which has been previously stalled due to lack of funding, was aimed at improving the skid resistance of the Rota International Airport runway.

Current efforts are focused at improving the skid resistance of the island’s air transport facility runway in order to make it less slippery especially during the rainy season.

The need for rehabilitation of the Rota airport’s runway was first raised when Continental Micronesia permanently suspended Boeing 727 turbojet service to the island, citing reasons of lower braking effectiveness.