One down, 39 more Rota charter flights to go

Pacific Development, Inc. bid adieu to the passengers of the inaugural Rota charter flight last April 30 and said it looks forward to welcoming the 39 other charters scheduled through 2009 from Japan.

General manager Gordon Marciano said that, like the arrival, the departure of the maiden charter flight to the southernmost island of the CNMI was smooth.

“The tourists initially were worried when they first heard that the Rota terminal was very small and were advised that checking through immigration and departure at TSA would be a challenge. But to their amazement, there were no difficulties at all. They had shared how professional the personnel were from CPA, Immigration, and TSA and were all smiles as they entered the departure area.”

Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos was once again in full support of PDI and its mother company, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd., as he and local students handed out leis to the departing tourists.

“One of the guests was so excited that you could hear his voice shouting in excitement that he’ll be back again to see Rota,” said Marciano.

After the inaugural Rota charter flight took off, Inos and the rest of Team PDI stayed at the airport, this time to await the second flight from Narita.

“The same, warm welcome and greeting through the arrival area went well and was very smooth but this time processing of the tourists was faster and earlier than the first flight. Again the guest got to their hotels without any delays,” said Marciano, who added that despite the lack of tour buses on the island the transportation of tourists from one site to the other went without a hitch.

For his part, PDI president Yoichi Matsumura extended his heartfelt appreciation to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Rep. Ramon Tebuteb, the Marianas Visitors Authority, Rota Delegation, Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos, and all the numerous supporters that made the Rota charter flights a success.

“Without their support and cooperation the realization of this project would not have been possible,” he said.

Matsumura also thanked the contributions made by Makoto Yashiro, who was the mastermind and the man behind the success of the Rota charter project.

“He has entered a two-year contract to support this project with Continental Airlines. He is very happy the Rota charter project is progressing very well.”

After the three Rota charters this Golden Week—the third is set to arrive on May 4—Rota will welcome 37 more this coming June, July, and August and the remaining months until April 2009.

The Rota charter flights are expected to bring in some 8,000 tourists to Rota in about a year. KNT has chartered Continental Airlines to bring in the new Rota flights. Continental Airlines is using its 155-seater Boeing 737 aircraft to service the island.