CNMI delegation to join maiden flight from China

The Marianas Visitors Authority is mapping out preparation for the party that will be held to welcome guests on board China Southern Air’s inaugural flight from Guangzhou, China to Saipan on April 19.

This, as CNMI officials, along with private players in the local tourism sector, are set to fly to China to grace the carrier’s maiden flight to the island. The MVA and the Tinian Legislative Delegation are arranging their travel itineraries.

Tinian Dynasty Hotel General Manager Tom Liu said the MVA has teamed up with the Commonwealth Ports Authority to prepare for the inaugural flight, which marks the first China-Saipan direct air transport service in NMI history.

The MVA is still finalizing the list of government officials and tourism industry players who will be joining the NMI delegation to China but initial reports claimed that Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, Pacific Islands Club and MVA official Wendy Herring, as well as, officials from Tinian, will join the maiden flight.

According to Liu, the CNMI is yet to receive the official number of delegates who will be boarding the China Southern Air. The delegates from China and CNMI are also expected to hold a discussion with the travel agents in Guangzhou prior to the flight. The officials will be staying in China beginning April 15.

Last week, the China Southern Air secured a license from the Federal Aviation Administration that would allow the airline company to proceed with its inaugural flight to the Commonwealth on Saturday.

The airline obtained from the FAA and the U.S.-DOT a charter flight permit for four flights for the Guangzhou-Saipan route.

The China Southern Air will be flying to Saipan for two weeks unless the FAA and the U.S.-DOT extend their flight permit to its original application, which is for 104 flights to the CNMI.

Liu said China Southern Air and Tinian Dynasty lawyers are still working on the additional flight permits that will allow the airline to complete the 104 agreed charter flights to the CNMI.

The China Southern Air will be leaving Guangzhou on April 19 and is scheduled to arrive on Saipan at 2am of April 20. A reception party is being arranged for the delegation from Guangzhou.

China Southern Air will serve the Guangzhou-Saipan route twice a week using Boeing 757 with 198 seating capacity. With two flights a week—Tuesday and Friday flights to Saipan—Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino projects an estimated 20,000 additional passengers in a year and at least $27 million contribution on spending to the CNMI coffers.