Palacios, Skymark staying positive air service to Saipan could resume

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said he and Skymark Airlines executives are staying positive that the company may resume air service to Saipan in the near future.

At a press conference in the governor’s conference room Tuesday afternoon, Palacios disclosed that he and the Skymark executives met during Palacios’ and Marianas Visitors Authority board’s and staff’s four-day tour in Japan and, among the topics of discussion were the benefits of flying out of Haneda airport compared to Narita airport.

Palacios and the MVA team met last April 6 with Skymark Airlines president and executive officer Hayao Hora, senior managing director and executive officer for corporate planning and sales Manabu Motohashi, and general manager for corporate planning department Tetsuya Okuno.

Palacios said they’re grateful that the Skymark leadership and some of their key staff were there to receive them. He said the Skymark executives did not give specific dates as to when they will resume service to Saipan, but expressed appreciation for the CNMI’s commitment to its working relationship with the airlines.

He said their conversation was that Skymark is just recovering now after almost closing down during the pandemic and they were also going through corporate adjustments even prior to the pandemic.

The governor said those things have been addressed by Skymark and now they’re doing very well. However, it may take about 18 months to 24 months for the airline to fully recover he added.

Palacios said Skymark is a domestic airline and that’s where their strong market is.

Saipan was Skymark’s first international venture. During the pandemic, though, Skymark closed the Narita-Saipan route.

Palacios said even Skymark’s office is closed here and their slot in Narita is no longer there. “So they have to restart the whole process,” the governor said.

Palacios said Skymark’s hub right now is Haneda and it’s easier for them to get a slot even for a charter out of Haneda than from Narita.

Palacios said even United Airlines might be looking at Haneda. “If we can have three charters a week from another airline and with three from United, that will be quite an improvement,” he said.

What the CNMI can do is help create the market and the demand, he said.

He said they also discussed strengthening the partnership between Saipan and Skymark and resuming direct air service between Tokyo and Saipan.

The governor said during their meeting with Japan Airport Terminal Co. (JATCO) and Haneda Airport executives last April 4, they discussed direct flights from Haneda for future Saipan flights.

The Tokyo-Haneda Airport is owned by the Japanese government, but JATCO operates the airport.

Palacios and MVA also had a meeting with officials of the U.S. Embassy in Japan last April 3, during which the embassy indicated that it will support travel promotion activities for the CNMI. The embassy also indicated that it would help advocate for travel to the CNMI by working with Japanese government agencies.

There was also discussion on opportunities to host CNMI investment missions at the ambassador’s residence, and bring Commonwealth Economic Development Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Marianas Visitors Authority, Chamber of Commerce, and Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands on trade mission to Japan to promote investments in the CNMI.

Palacios and the MVA team met last April 3 with Japan Association of Travel Agents executives, where they talked about the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Japan on May 8, 2023, the Adventure Tourism Summit in Hokkaido in September, JATA Tourism Expo in Osaka in October, and MVA’s current promotions.

Palacios and MVA board and staff also met last April 4 with Japan’s Minister of Defense, Yasukazu Hamada, officials of Japan Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, and Japan Minister of Trade and Industry officials.