Cape Air cancellations continue

Cape Air flights have been cancelled indefinitely as proper measures are being taken to ensure safe operations moving forward, according to Linda Markham, Cape Air’s president.

“Our goal is to have the Cape Air aircraft return to service as soon as possible. Although we understand that this is a true inconvenience to customers, safety is of utmost importance and will not be sacrificed to expedite this process,” Markham said in a statement.

According to data on flightstats.com, over 13 flights have been cancelled over this weekend and on Friday.

Last Friday, two morning flights, 9K5069 and 9K5071, were cancelled. In the afternoon, flight 9K5077, set to arrive on Saipan at 2:50pm, was also cancelled. Friday’s evening flights, 9K5041 and 9K5043, which were scheduled to arrive at 6:35 and 10:20 pm, followed suit.

According to the site, a United Airlines flight flew later that night, arriving on Saipan at 11:29pm. Cape Air and United Airlines are codeshare partners.

Markham said United would continue to provide accommodating flights in the interim.

“We work closely with our partner, United Airlines, to ensure that proper plans are in place for replacement aircraft, customer service, and scheduling. United and the employee group from Cape Air have worked diligently to keep the operation moving forward,” she said.

On Saturday, four flights were cancelled. Two were scheduled to arrive on Saipan at 3:35am and 8:05am, another in the afternoon at 2pm, and the last at 8:05pm.

As of 7pm last night, four Cape Air flights were cancelled. They were scheduled to arrive at the same time as Saturday’s flights.

The recent cancellations continue a trend beginning last month. Cancelled flights were first reported on the weekend of July 25, continuing through to July 31.

Last week’s cancelled flights not only included the weekend and Friday but all flights last week leading up to Aug. 6.

For United Airlines flights from other countries with passengers whose final destination is Saipan, United has been redirecting some of these passengers to its partners, such as Asiana Airlines. Two such United passengers from Manila who were supposed to transit through Guam to Saipan were given this accommodation.

With public discontent over Cape Air’s service growing in the last few months, Rep. Lorenzo Leon Guerroro, chairman of the House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communication said he is “following the situation very closely.”

He said in statement that he has talked with the Office of the Attorney General’s consumer counsel, assistant attorney general Gus Harb, and while the office cannot prosecute an airline or directly address public complaints, they would help direct concerns to the proper authorities.

“I am very happy to report that the Office of Consumer Counsel will be taking complaints regarding United Airlines and Cape Air and forwarding them to the U.S. Department of Transportation,” he said.

Guerrero said his goals are to make transportation more reliable and affordable for the public and private sector, and as a lawmaker, he will be introducing legislation to help entice other airlines to the CNMI.

“This is a good first step and I congratulate AAG Harb for taking the time and making the effort to help the people of the CNMI,” he said