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SMA’s Rota-Guam flights resume today
United also resumes Saipan-Guam flights today
Over a week after Typhoon Mawar barrelled through Rota and Guam and temporarily disrupting flights, Star Marianas Airlines announced it will be resuming flights between the two islands starting today, June 2, 2023.
Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) announced the resumption of flights by the CNMI’s lone interisland airline in a Facebook post last Wednesday.
“Guam Commuter Terminal has just been cleared for passenger operation so Star Marianas Air will be resuming their passenger flights between Guam and Rota beginning Friday, June 2, 2023,” he said.
The resumption of flights is apparently on the list of priorities as Rota and Guam continue with their recovery efforts post-Mawar.
Separately, Star Marianas Airlines itself announced that flights between Rota and Guam are set to resume starting June 2.
Saipan Tribune learned that United Airlines is also set to resume its Marianas flights today, June 2.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, the Rota International Airport has been assessed and is now 100% operational.
As for power and water service, about 92% of the island has been re-energized while water service has been completely restored.
The CNMI’s federal partners have also begun their assessments and are soon expected to provide resources needed for Rota’s restoration.
Last Tuesday, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios accompanied a team of senior leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Rota to discuss response and recovery efforts with Rota Mayor Aubrey M. Hocog. The delegation from FEMA included Anne Bink, FEMA associate administrator of Response and Recovery; FEMA Region IX administrator Robert “Bob” Fenton; Jeffrey Dorko, FEMA associate administrator, Logistics; Justin Knighton, FEMA director of External Affairs; and other FEMA leaders.
The visit also allowed senior FEMA leaders to see firsthand the typhoon damage on Rota and the ongoing local response efforts like the restoration of power, and restoration of water access.
FEMA personnel also visited the CUC power plant, East Harbor, West Harbor, and other locations that sustained damage from Mawar.
