CPA sees direct flights to Tinian

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is confident airline companies currently servicing Saipan would eventually dispatch direct flights to Tinian, especially when the air transport facility’s runway is completed in a little over a year.

Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas also expressed optimism the West Tinian International Airport would be able to attract new carriers for possible direct international flights to the island.

However, Mr. Salas pointed out that airline companies normally start thinking about deploying aircraft to new destinations only after major construction project on the area’s airport is completed, and when the demand becomes more evident.

He is upbeat that promotions being carried out by the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino and the Marianas Visitors Authority, coupled with ongoing improvement of the island’s international airport, will bear good fruits.

CPA is also counting on the new hotel-casino facility which was proposed to be built by a Japan-based company also on Tinian. The development was seen as realization of efforts to make the island Micronesia’s casino-gaming hub.

The casino gaming industry on Tinian is expected to move at a higher gear soon after CPA completes the construction of the island’s new air transport facility.

The multi-million-dollar airport improvement project collected dust for several years due to financial constraints, despite persistent prodding from island officials to begin and fast-track the construction of the facility.

Officials are upbeat on the project’s ripple effect on the island’s drowsy economy, considering that the construction created hundreds of job opportunities which meant new temporary tenants on Tinian.

The West Tinian International Airport rehabilitation project would pave the road for the circulation of fresh money, translated into several hundred thousand dollars, into the island’s economy.

CPA has been working doubly hard in enticing major airline companies to provide nonstop air transport services to Tinian since construction for the island’s multi-million airport formally began last year.

Mr. Salas said proposed improvements on the existing West Tinian International Airport, including runway expansion, have been communicated with CNMI signatory airlines for over two years now.

He said discussions with airline executives will continue while the project is ongoing for their possible deployment of nonstop flights from major countries in Asia to Tinian, which is home to the only casino-gambling facility in the Northern Marianas.

“Improvements on the Tinian airport facility have been forwarded to all major carriers for at least a couple of years now. We have talked with executives of Continental Micronesia, Japan Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Asiana Airlines and Mandarin Air,” he said.

He added that more airline companies that are yet to provide air transport services to the Northern Marianas may also come in once the project is completed in 18 months.

Mr. Salas said CPA has joined hands with the Marianas Visitors Authority and the business sector in intensifying efforts to promote the unique value of the CNMI’s three major islands as prime tour destinations.

“We’re continuing to promote the CNMI. We have been marketing Saipan as a commercial haven where tourists can do shopping and play golf, Rota as an ecotourism sanctuary and Tinian as a casino-gaming hideaway,” he said.

While none of the CNMI signatory airlines are yet to commit into dispatching air transport services to Tinian, Mr. Salas is confident that flights will eventually be deployed to the island after the facility has been completed.

“After the facilities are put in place and after we have lined up the market, then the airlines will definitely come in. They don’t make commitments until all things are finished or until the facilities are completed and the market is ready to come in,” he stressed.

The ports authority has made about $17 million in total funds available for the West Tinian International Airport improvement project, almost half of which were sourced out of FAA grants.

FAA has provided about $13.5 million in total financing for the West Tinian International Airport expansion project, while the balance has been pledged by members of the Tinian Legislative Delegation through the island’s Capital Improvement Project funds.

The project will be carried out according to the specifications stated under the Alternative Bid which calls for the construction of an 8,600-linear-foot runway, two 600 linear-foot taxiways, one 200 linear-foot partial taxiway; and the conversion of the existing 6,000 linear-foot runway to a parallel taxiway.

It will also include the construction of 2,296 linear-foot parallel taxiway connecting to Runway 26 and rerouting 4,400 linear-foot of 8th Avenue, which will form part of the proposed 7,600 linear-foot runway.