By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

CONTINENTAL Micronesia announced yesterday that it will operate summer charter services to Taipei, Taiwan.
The airline said it added the new schedule in response to strong demand for travel to Guam from business and leisure travelers in Taipei during the peak summer travel season.
“Working with our travel industry partners in Taiwan, we’re pleased to offer these services to our neighbors in Taipei. Our service will meet the demand of our Taiwan customers and benefit Guam’s economy,” Continental Micronesia Staff Vice President of Sales and Marketing Walter Dias said in a statement.
He added that the flights will make Micronesia a more convenient vacation destination for the Taiwanese and will strengthen Guam’s position as an airline hub in the Pacific Rim.
Continental will operate the flights on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday beginning June 13 and ending August 1 using a 155-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The flight departs Guam at 8:30 p.m. and arrives in Taipei at 10:30 p.m. The return flight from Taipei departs at 11:50 p.m. and arrives in Guam at 5:30 a.m. the next day.
Three additional flights will be operated on Friday, Aug. 3; Tuesday, Aug. 7; and Wednesday, Aug. 8.
The Guam Visitors Bureau has been seeking to increase tourism arrivals from the Taiwan market, which has now become Guam’s fourth largest tourism market.
Taiwan, an island with a population of over 22 million, has a dynamic economy and because there is already a visa waiver program in place, affluent Taiwanese can easily visit Guam.