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JAL to fly to Saipan again in December
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Posted on Nov 07 2006
Japan Airlines is expected to make two more chartered flights to Saipan next month, said the Marianas Visitors Authority.
But these flights have no fixed dates yet, said MVA managing director Perry P. Tenorio.
“That’s something that we have no control of. But we are anticipating flights in December,” said Tenorio.
A year after it pulled out from the CNMI, JAL flew back to Saipan yesterday on a chartered flight bringing tourists from Narita. JAL used a 300-capacity aircraft.
Tenorio said the plane was set to return to Narita on a ferry or empty flight.
On Nov. 10, the airline will come back to the island to bring home the Japanese tourists. Tenorio said this particular flight was arranged by travel and tour agents.
Both MVA and the Commonwealth Ports Authority said that JAL’s return, although on a chartered basis, “is very exciting news for us.”
“We look forward to welcoming the charter flight to the CNMI. JAL has been a part of the CNMI for many years and we are glad to see them bring a charter flight back to our islands,” Tenorio had said.
“We are looking forward to having these charter flights arrive,” said CPA executive director Clyde Norita.
JAL used to bring some 155,000 passengers to Saipan annually.
After 28 years of operations in the CNMI, JAL pulled out in October 2005, citing lack of profitability.
JAL’s departure resulted in the loss of nearly 100,000 tourist arrivals from Japan during Fiscal Year 2006.
Latest MVA data showed that from October 2005 to September 2006, the CNMI lost 95,971 visitors from Japan.
From 376,263 in FY 2005, Japan arrivals went down to 280,292 in FY 2006.
Overall, statistics showed that a total of 443,812 tourists arrived in the Northern Marianas during the period, a 16 percent drop from FY 2005, which saw 529,557 tourists.
