United: Subsidy needed for more flights

If the CNMI wants United Airlines to add more flights between Saipan and Guam, plus a stop on Rota, the company would require government support of about $8 million a year.

According to documents containing proposals from the airline to the CNMI government, a copy of which was obtained by Saipan Tribune, United Airlines implementing four weekly Guam-Saipan flights plus a Rota stop would require at least $1.1 million for each additional flight from the CNMI government.

The least expensive offer from the airline, at $1.1 million annually, offers daily flights serving Guam and Saipan that “can stop on Rota twice per week.” The first offer would originate from Guam going to Rota before going to Saipan and then Saipan to Guam on Tuesdays. On Fridays, flights would originate from Guam going to Saipan before heading to Rota and ultimately landing on Guam.

The second offer serves Rota four times a week for $2.2 million annually. The flight on Tuesdays and Fridays would originate from Guam going to Saipan, then Rota before ultimately arriving on Guam. On Wednesdays and Sundays, flights would originate from Guam going to Rota then Saipan, before looping back to Guam.

The third offer provides additional frequencies to “complement” the daily Guam-Saipan flights with stops on Rota every Tuesday and Saturday evening. The trip also includes additional flights connecting Guam and Saipan after first dropping by Rota. United requires $4 million for two additional weekly Guam-Saipan flights with a stop on Rota in the evening.

The fourth offer, which is the most expensive, provides four additional weekly evening flights dropping by Rota every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. United requires the CNMI government to pay $8 million annually.

“We are in the final stage of opening up routes to Rota,” said Gov. Ralph DLG Torres in a press conference last Wednesday. “…What we are moving now is trying to get flights to Rota—at least twice a week from United,” he said, adding that he is also discussing with the airline the possibility of opening direct flights to Japan.

“We are still working on those numbers,” said Torres. He added that another airline is also interested.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) in a statement issued June 6, stated that he had written to United chief executive officer Oscar Munoz, to ask the carrier to consider increasing the number of flights between Saipan and Guam each day.

The delegate cited increased travel times for connecting passengers as well as increased costs and inconveniences as hindrances for the travelling public due to the “reduction in service.”

He added that the new schedule “forces Saipan passengers to wait 21 hours in Guam before they can depart for Hawaii, a major route connecting to the U.S. mainland.

“…Passengers from Honolulu arrive at 6pm, and have to wait overnight in Guam for 13 hours before they can connect for Saipan the next morning,” Sablan added.