Petition vs Cape Air gathers more signatures

Over a hundred customers of the only airline transporting passengers from Saipan to Guam and vice versa have signed an online petition against it amid growing concerns over the mechanical and technical problems being encountered by its aircraft.

Rose A. Hocog, organizer of the signature petition against Cape Air, confirmed with Saipan Tribune that the online complaint has now more than a hundred names on it and that it will soon be submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“So far we have garnered over 100 signatures on the online petition. I plan to print the petition and personally deliver it to the Legislature, governor’s office, CPA [Commonwealth Ports Authority], and all the agencies listed on the petition. I also plan to file a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation,” she said.

Saipan Tribune tried to obtain comments and inquired about the long-term plans of the airline firm relating to the services it provides CNMI customers but Cape Air remains mum on the issue, despite acknowledging receipt of the inquiry since last week.

The online petition, according to Hocog, was brought to the table as a result of the continuing failure of the airline firm to provide satisfactory service. Among the reasons cited in the online complaint is “poor service” as well as growing concerns over the repeated mechanical and technical problems being encountered by its aircraft.

“Many members of our community are upset with Cape Air. The petition outlines some of the complaints and concerns that our travelers have. Although I have received comments from a Cape Air staff telling us that we should not complain and that if we are dissatisfied then we should just swim or take a boat, this will not stop me from doing what needs to be done for our people,” said Hocog.

She said the staffer’s comment did not bother her. What ruffles her feather more is the continuing inaction of elected leaders on the plight of the flying public.

“What bothers me is that despite the complaints, we have not heard from any of our elected leaders about their plan about this. I am sure that they are not deaf. I am sure that they can read. I am sure that they know what the people are complaining about,” she said.

Cape Air, the only carrier now servicing travelers from the CNMI to neighboring Guam, has reportedly been experiencing delays in its regular flights for quite some time due to what was described as maintenance checks. The airline is using one ATR-42 aircraft to serve the CNMI customers.

“We have children who travel back and forth to represent the CNMI, we have folks who need to travel to and from because of medical reasons, we have business folks who travel to and from to meet with clients, we have family and friends who travel to and from to visit, and we have tourists who travel to and from our islands. Are our elected leaders waiting for something tragic to happen before they do something? Is renaming and naming of streets more important than the safety and lives of the people of and the visitors to the CNMI?” Hocog asked.

She is encouraging more people to sign the petition.

“If they do not care, there are currently over a hundred people who have joined me in openly expressing their concerns, who have shown that they care. I am encouraging others to join us and let their voices be heard through the petition, their Facebook pages, Twitter, and emails to their elected leaders,” she said.

She added that the petition is still available online for people to sign.