By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

ASIANA Airlines expects to bring in 150,000 passengers in a year with its four additional flights between Saipan and Incheon, South Korea starting next week, according to a resolution offered by Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian.
The increase brings to 11 the total number of weekly flights to the CNMI.
Asiana, one of two major carriers in South Korea, was awarded a 5-star rating last month by Skytrax, a London-based firm renowned for its product and service quality assessment program.
Only four other international airlines have 5-star ratings from Skytrax — Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
Asiana’s parent company, Kumho Asiana Group, recently purchased Laolao Bay Golf Resort on Saipan and plans to turn the property into a modern enclave of luxury villas.
Mendiola said Asiana Airlines should be commended for investing in the Northern Marianas.
He expressed the hope that Asiana’s venture would result in better promotion of the CNMI among the traveling public in South Korea.
“This inaugural flight is the first daytime flight from Incheon, Korea, providing direct service to the CNMI. This provides a tremendous competitive advantage for the CNMI to be promoted as a tourist destination to travelers in Korea, and in countries such as China and Russia,” said Mendiola.
“There exists a mutually beneficial opportunity for Asiana Airlines and the CNMI with the outbound market from Korea continuing to show increases combined with the CNMI’s close proximity to Korea, a travel time of only four hours from Incheon to Saipan,” he added.
Incheon International Airport is Asiana’s hub.