Arrivals from South Korea grew 372 percent year-on-year in December 2019 to 33,648, higher than even December 2017 (29,092 visitor arrivals). T’Way Air began a second daily daytime flights from Seoul Incheon to Saipan on Nov. 21, 2019, which will continue through late March 2020. On Jan. 1, 2020, Asiana Airlines upgraded their aircraft service from Seoul Incheon to A330 equipment with 298 seats, also continuing through late March 2020.
Arrivals from China decreased 37 percent to 9,974 visitors in December. In December, the number of available air seats between China and the Marianas dropped 40 percent compared to December 2017. Charter flights from Shanghai were reduced from four to two flights per week, and flights from Guangzhou were temporarily suspended beginning Dec 2. Flights from Hong Kong by Hong Kong Airlines also remain suspended. China outbound travel to the U.S. has been dampened by the trade war with U.S. The market is also suffering from continued tension in Hong Kong, a tightened parole policy visa-free travel to the Marianas for Chinese tourists, and a continuing high exchange rate.
Visitor arrivals from Japan grew 448 percent to 5,165 visitors in December on the wings of daily, direct flights launched by Skymark Airlines on Nov. 29 from Tokyo-Narita to Saipan. Skymark is offering promotional rates starting at $38 one way plus fuel surcharge. Approximately 40,000 visitors are expected from Japan in FY 2020, based on 80 percent load factor on scheduled flights; this compares to 12,000 visitors from the source market in FY 2019.
The MS Asuka II also berthed in Saipan on Dec. 31, 2019, with 857 passengers.
