Cape Air, United vow commitment to NMI customers

United Airlines and Cape Air vowed their commitment to CNMI customers yesterday, saying they are aware of the online petition against Cape Air and are addressing the concerns being raised.

In a statement to Saipan Tribune, Cape Air’s president Linda Markham said that safety is paramount to the company.

“Our commitment to our customers, the community, and most importantly, safety, is paramount. Because of these values, we take all necessary precautions to ensure safe operation of the aircraft, while mitigating any inconvenience to our customers during service disruptions stemming from required aircraft safety checks,” she said in an email.

Cape Air’s service to the CNMI has been the subject of an ongoing petition against the airline. As of last week, petition organizer Rose A. Hocog said that over a hundred individuals have affixed their signatures to the petition.

According to Cape Air, it is closely following and has been kept abreast by its team in Micronesia of the petition initiated by Hocog.

Yesterday, Cape Air’s Markham said the airline acknowledges the feedback it received from customers and vowed to address their concerns.

“Acknowledging customer feedback and addressing concerns are essential steps in the process for upholding our standard of providing reliable, safe air service, which we have been proud to do in the region for 10 years,” she told Saipan Tribune.

In addition to the Cape Air statement, its partner United Airlines, through director for Asia/Pacific Communications Koji Nagata, also assured its commitment to the NMI.

“United Airlines is working closely with our partner Cape Air to ensure our customers receive the highest level of service,” according to the United Airlines official.

The ongoing petition against Cape Air urges elected leaders to probe the “reliability” of the airline’s services, including its aircrafts. The petition also criticized the airfare being charged Saipan-Guam customers.

According to the petition, Cape Air provides “unacceptable and unreliable air transport service” to residents and tourists from the CNMI to Guam and vice versa. It added that residents of the Marianas who travel to and from Guam are dissatisfied with the service “but are at the mercy of Cape Air.” Specific complaints focus on the heat in the cabin of the aircraft, delayed arrival of passengers’ luggage, leaks in the cabin, recurring mechanical problems, and delayed flights.

“Residents of the CNMI pay up to $400 for a round trip ticket to Guam on Cape Air but are not receiving the kind of service they deserve for the amount of money they pay,” according to the petition.

The online petition can be found at http://www.change.org/petitions/cnmi-governor-lt-governor-cnmi-legislature-cpa-board-united-airlines-faa-ntsb-to-urge-those-listed-to-investigate-and-force-cape-air-to-provide-reliable-services-and-safe-aircrafts-and-to-do-so-without-penalizing-the-travelers-by-increasing-the-airfa?share_id=sCHsdDGkHL&utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_false.