The United Airlines ticket counters at A.B. Won Pat International Airport are seen on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024.
HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Guam Delegate James Moylan has introduced federal legislation seeking to lower the cost of domestic air travel for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by creating a special cabotage exemption for foreign carriers.
“This would allow for competition for certain routes, which in turn should lead to more competitive pricing, which ultimately benefits the consumers,” according to a press release from the congressman.
CNMI Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan is a co-sponsor and, according to the release from Moylan’s office, is the Democrat co-lead for the proposal, which is called H.R. 8786.
According to the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School, U.S. air cabotage law prohibits the transportation of persons, property or mail for compensation or hire between points within the U.S. through a foreign civil aircraft.
The press release from Moylan’s office notes that United Airlines is the only domestic carrier that provides travel routes between Guam and the CNMI and between Guam and Hawaii. If the proposal becomes law, a foreign carrier could provide those travel services or even consider a route between Guam and one of the continental U.S. states.
The measure comes about a month after a Change.org petition sought fairer prices for United flights from the U.S. to Guam, which was just the latest petition regarding the airlines. Prior petitions demanded fairer prices for flights from Saipan to Guam and urged the re-establishment of United’s pet shipping service, the PetSafe program.
The release from Moylan’s office stated that, based on research regarding the average costs of domestic travel, leaving from the A.B. Won Pat International Airport to any airport across the U.S. is considered the most expensive route. The release also stated that during quality-of-life panel discussions, which are part of the Armed Services Committee at the House of Representatives, the top concern for those service members living in Guam is the cost of airfare.
“This is an issue which has been building, and with all additional concerns being raised recently, from United’s pet policy to and from Guam, and the ending of the native bird repatriation program, along with $500 airfare costs between Guam and Saipan, something needs to be done,” Moylan stated in the release.
He also stated that pushing forward with the measure will be a “massive undertaking” and noted that challenges will come from many entities, “particularly from the incumbent carrier.”
“This is also an issue which will be a marathon and not a sprint. In other words, it needs to build some momentum and will take time. We have and will continue to build an education campaign on why H.R. 8786 is so important for the Marianas,” Moylan added.
The release stated that his team is discussing the measure with relevant committee staff to identify what bill the language can be added onto as an amendment.
While Moylan says the issue will need some time to pursue, his position is up for election this year. Moylan is the lone candidate from the Republican Party, but he will have to face whoever the Democratic candidate will be after the primary election in August. There are three Democrats competing to challenge Moylan in the general election: Michael San Nicolas, Amanda Shelton and Ginger Cruz.
Moylan stated in the release from his office that H.R. 8786 is “in no way a testament to the efforts” of the management, staff and flight crew of United Airlines on Guam.
“They continue to go above and beyond by being a community partner while providing exemplary service both in flight and on the ground, and I thank them for their hard work. This issue is about decisions made on a corporate level in Chicago,” Moylan added.
