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JALWays to bring chartered flights to Saipan
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Posted on Oct 11 2004
Japan Airlines aims to bring in up to 40 chartered flights to Saipan from November to December this year.
“If we see that there’s good enough demand, we’ll do that,” said JALWays chief executive officer Katsumi Chiyo.
He said the chartered flights would be originating from Haneda. “We’d like to maintain good service between the two islands,” he added.
JALWays had just added last summer eight extra flights between Haneda and Saipan, using its Boeing 767 planes. This aircraft can carry 233 passengers per flight.
Chiyo said JALWays would use aircraft with the same seating capacity for the chartered flights.
Chiyo, together with JALWays managing director Makoto Aoki, as well as JAL Saipan Office general manager Shinichi Yoshida, paid a courtesy call on Gov. Juan N. Babauta Friday morning.
Chiyo said the visit primarily meant to introduce himself, being a newly assigned CEO of JALWays. He said he just assumed his post three months ago.
Aside from the CNMI, JALWays also provides direct flights to Hawaii, Guam, Bangkok, and lately Australia.
In an interview with reporters Friday, Chiyo said the CNMI remains an attractive market for the Japanese, owing to its close proximity and its tropical climate.
When asked, though, Chiyo noted that he hopes that that services at the Saipan International Airport would improve for tourists and other travelers. He said that Japanese tourists are not particularly amused with the fact that they have to wait and stand in long lines upon arrival and departure.
He said that, although airport security is important, the CNMI government needs to ensure a faster and more efficient passenger inspection process.
Japanese travelers, he said, would want to see a separate lane for them to ensure a faster processing upon their arrival.
JALWays Company Ltd, is a subsidiary companies of JAL Group.
