Cancelled flights strand 800-plus passengers

After the initial decision to proceed with scheduled departure and arrival flights yesterday, all signatory airlines backtracked and decided to cancel their remaining flights last night due to Typhoon Tingting.

All airlines serving the Northern Marianas had earlier notified the Commonwealth Ports Authority and passengers of plans to proceed with departure and arrival flights to the Saipan International Airport to relieve airline firms from backlogs accumulated over the weekend.

At least 800 passengers were stranded on Saipan as a result of the cancelled flights. Some of those stranded included passengers from a flight that was diverted from Guam.

There was zero visibility as of Monday afternoon, with Tingting gaining strength after making landfall on the Marianas archipelago Sunday night.

All stranded passengers bound for Tokyo, Guam, Honolulu, and other destination were brought to several Saipan hotels where they will stay until flights are normalized.

Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Carlos H. Salas disclosed that the Saipan International Airport remained open during Saturday and Sunday but several flights in and out of Saipan were either delayed or cancelled due to zero-visibility. Two flights bound for Guam were diverted to Saipan and Manila, Philippines, when Guam International Airport reportedly delayed all air transportation operation due to the storm.

As of 4pm Monday, Continental Airlines said that based on improved weather conditions, flights were allowed at 2:30pm. The first flight for Guam arrived at 2:30pm followed by a flight from Houston that departed GIA at 4:30pm.

But at 6pm, CPA disclosed that only one Continental flight proceeded with its schedule and management decided to cancel four remaining flights to and from the Guam International Airport.

Salas also said that JAL, which earlier signified its intention to fly to Saipan, decided to return to Japan.

Continental Airlines officials said that it plans to operate a regular flight schedule today as weather condition improves.

“Continental Airlines recommends that customers who are scheduled to travel from Guam or Saipan to stay tuned to local radio and TV stations for announcements on the flight changes. Continental Airlines will continue to inform its customers through community media outlets as more information becomes available,” said a media statement released yesterday. For inquiries, Continental Airlines designated Lou Sanchez at 671-647-6453 for Guam or 760-234-6492 on Saipan.

Also, CPA reported that Northwest Airlines, which canceled Sunday’s flight, and Japan Airlines both went back on track Monday with the arrival of Saipan-bound flight from Tokyo at 5:30pm and 6:30pm from Narita.

Asiana Airlines, meanwhile, went back on track Monday midnight, with its 12:20am and 1:30am flights to Saipan proceeding as scheduled.

“CPA is working closely with the airlines. It is their discretion if they want to proceed with their flight schedules but we are working with them to ensure that it would be safe for all concerned. The airlines want to catch up and take care of their backlogs that accumulated over the weekend due to several cancelled flights,” said Salas in an interview.

Salas said things are coming back on track as CPA arranges working on different timing and schedule of arrivals and departures to accommodate all flights in and out of the Saipan International Airport.

He said Guam was temporarily inaccessible on Sunday afternoon but Guam International Airport was working hard to normalize its operations.

“Guam is working hard and gearing up for its operation. It is waiting for flights to come back and all their facilities are also back,” he added.

On Saipan, all small aircraft deferred inter-island transit due to strong winds and zero visibility.

Salas also said that the Saipan Seaport remained closed up to Monday afternoon and is expected to return to normal operation today when the typhoon leaves Saipan.

“Everything would be calm and back to normal hopefully tomorrow [today] and we would get everything back and ready,” he assured.