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PAL checks out Saipan
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Posted on May 17 2006
Philippine Airlines has checked out Saipan but only to seek a partnership for refueling and stopover services, said the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
CPA acting executive director Reno Celis said PAL representatives came to the island and met with CPA over a month ago.
“PAL wants to use Saipan as refueling station, for technical stop to Australia and the U.S. mainland. We told them we are pleased to have them here,” said Celis.
He said he is awaiting updates from PAL on the issue.
About three years ago, the Manila-based airlines was set to resume direct Manila-Saipan services but reconsidered, citing poor turnout in its Guam-Manila flights.
PAL executives said then that they would keep an eye on the possible resumption of the Manila-Saipan flights “in due time.”
PAL, the Philippines’ flag carrier, used to provide flights between Manila and Saipan, but the service stopped several years ago due to shrinking passenger haul.
Currently, the Saipan-Manila route is serviced by Continental Airlines twice a week.
Saipan is home to about 20,000 Filipinos, most of them nonresident workers.
