Star Marianas’ Piper PA 31-350 Navajo Chieftain aircraft are parked at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
THE Commonwealth Ports Authority was never a part of the agreement between Star Marianas Air Inc. and U.S Customs and Border Protection, CPA Executive Director Leo B. Tudela said.
In his letter to SMA Chair Robert F. Christian on Wednesday, Tudela said although he sympathizes with those that will be affected by SMA’s decision to discontinue providing transportation for CBP personnel, “I want to be clear that the transportation arrangement was between USCBP and SMA, not CPA. CPA was never party to the arrangement/agreement.”
Tudela was responding to Christian’s letter dated Sept. 17, 2024, informing CPA that SMA may have to cancel its Rota-Guam flight service pending clarification from CPA whether arrangements have already been made for an adequate staffing of CBP at the Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport on Rota.
Tudela also noted that the first letter that Christian said he sent on Sept. 2, 2024 was “received by my office on Sept. 17, 2024.”
In his response to Tudela on Thursday, Christian said SMA understands that CPA “may not be directly responsible for delivering these services.” But “it is important to emphasize that the CPA, as the managing authority for the airport, holds the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that all required services are in place to support the operations of airlines and facilitate passenger travel.”
Christian said the availability of CBP pre-clearance services is critical to maintaining scheduled flights between Rota and Guam, and ensuring that passengers meet U.S. entry requirements. As the authority responsible for airport management, he said CPA must ensure that appropriate arrangements are made with CBP to provide the necessary services for pre-clearance.
“Without these services, the viability of scheduled routes such as ours becomes jeopardized, and it is ultimately within CPA’s mandate to ensure the proper facilitation of these essential services,” Christian said.
“Given the gravity of this situation, I must reiterate that the provisioning of required services falls within the CPA’s jurisdiction and responsibility, in coordination with CBP. If these services are not facilitated, airlines like STAR Marianas will face significant operational challenges, including potential cancellations, which will directly impact passengers and the broader transportation network,” Christian said.
He strongly urged CPA “to take a more active role in ensuring that CBP services are made available at the Rota Airport. We are open to discussing how STAR Marianas can assist in facilitating this process, but the responsibility must reside with CPA and CBP to deliver these services effectively and in a timely manner,” Christian added.
Open to discussion
In related news, CPA Board Chair Jose C. Ayuyu wrote Christian a letter in response to SMA’s accusation of “coercion” against CPA.
Ayuyu said he and the CPA staff have met with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and talked about CPA’s issue with SMA regarding its $1.2 million outstanding balance in airport fees.
Ayuyu said CPA “is open to meeting and discussing any outstanding issues that you may have. I have asked the governor to reach [out] to you to coordinate the meeting with representatives from both Star Marianas Air, Inc. and CPA.”
