Historic touchdown for Skymark

Skymark Airlines president and representative director Masahiko Ichie and Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, at left, flank first lady Diann Torres, partly hidden, as they help welcome passengers of the inaugural charter flight of Skymark at the tarmac of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport Friday afternoon. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Skymark Airlines Inc. made a historic touchdown on Saipan last Friday afternoon with a chartered B737-800 plane carrying 173 passengers, making it the first Japanese carrier to fly directly to Saipan since Japan Airlines withdrew from the CNMI in 2005.

This new partnership between Skymark and the CNMI government comes with high hopes of increasing tourist arrivals from Japan and reviving the slumping Japanese market.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, as well as Skymark president and representative director Masahiko Ichie led the Marianas Visitors Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, and Skymark officials and staff in welcoming the passengers as they got off the plane at the tarmac of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.

Miss Marianas 2018 Celine Cabrera and MVA staff greeted the visitors with warm “hafa adai” and handed them souvenir gifts and leis. Cultural dancers also entertained the visitors as they entered the airport.

In a press conference held later at the Skymark counter, Torres noted that the flight is Skymark’s first international venture and that the CNMI is fortunate to be chosen as its partner.

Skymark operates largely as a domestic airline in Japan. It currently has 150 domestic flights.

Torres said Skymark is taking a bold step in going international and could have gone anywhere around the world. “But they chose to come to Saipan,” said Torres, adding that the CNMI is fortunate to have Skymark president Ichie on the island.

“Thank you for your partnership. Your success is paramount to our success to bring back the Japanese market and diversify our tourist market,” the governor said.

With Skymark, Torres said, Saipan is the gateway of travelers from Japan and Asia to visit the U.S. mainland.

He said this will bring numerous business opportunities for the CNMI while families can also go on vacation in Japan.

Torres underscored the importance of making sure that the CNMI and Skymark support each other and have that commitment.

In a separate interview, Torres projects the entry of more Japanese investment into the islands. The timing is just right, he said, as the CNMI’s revenues are down by 20 percent.

Torres promised that his administration is committed to helping Skymark.

Separately, Palacios credited this partnership on the MVA and a lot of people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen.

“Skymark finally has touched down on Saipan. The challenge for us now is to sustain it, make sure that our guests are treated well,” Palacios said.

In his remarks, Ichie said their success will never happen without the CNMI’s support and advice and their company’s success is also the CNMI’s success.

In a brief statement read by a Skymark staff, Skymark executive officer Narutoshi Terada said that Friday’s charter flight is just the start, “symbolic of our goal in providing regular daily flights into Saipan.”

Terada assured that he will devote all his efforts to ensure the success of the Narita-Saipan daily routes, which will start this summer.

“I’ll assure that I will be here on that very first day when we launch our daily flight,” he said.

Skymark assistant manager John Furuya said they will most likely start regular daily flights during summer.

“We will be carrying 177 passengers every day,” Furuya said, citing that this will translate to over 50,000 passengers a year.

MVA board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce said the CNMI and Japan have historically enjoyed a good relationship.

Aldan-Pierce said the foundation of the tourism industry was built by the Japanese over 40 years ago.

She said when Japan Airlines pulled out in 2005, it was a devastating blow to the CNMI economy.

“We were grateful that Northwest Airlines, now known as Delta, stepped in and covered some of the slack that JAL left,” she said.

The MVA chair said the CNMI has been without a Japanese carrier since then.

When Delta pulled out last year, she said, the CNMI in essence lost the Japanese market.

“It is only fitting that the return of the Japan market is made via a Japanese carrier. We sincerely thank Skymark for making that happen today,” Aldan-Pierce said.

She said they thank Skymark for choosing Saipan with which to embark on their first international route and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.

MVA board member Jerry Tan said Japanese tourists have been coming to the CNMI for over 30 years and that Japan has been the CNMI’s leading market for decades. “There is no doubt that Japanese tourists love our islands,” said Tan, adding that there is no doubt in his mind that Skymark will be successful in its new venture to Saipan.

“And I’m sure that MVA and management of the board will fully support in promoting the Japan market. We are very excited,” he said.

Tan said it’s been 14 to 15 years since the CNMI has had a Japanese carrier fly direct to Saipan.

“We look forward to many more years of partnership with Skymark and redevelop the Japan market, which is badly missed by the people in the community,” he said.

Commonwealth Ports Authority board chair Kimberly King-Hinds assured that CPA supports and is committed to ensure Skymark’s success.

“Our door is open to full cooperation and working together to make this venture a success. Welcome to the CNMI,” she said.

Skymark, Japan’s third largest carrier, will also launch additional flights in April and May for Japanese Golden Week.

The CNMI government and Skymark earlier signed a co-promotional agreement that would re-open direct flights between Japan and Saipan.

Skymark is the first low-cost carrier in Japan. It is also the only carrier that offers domestic flights based at Haneda International Airport in Ota, Tokyo.