suspension of direct service from Saipan to Manila.
Continental claims that with the NCLEX exam for nurses being administered in Manila now, a large part of their revenue stream has evaporated. What a BOGUS excuse.
As a retired airline executive, and friend of the late Bob Six founder of Air Mike, I can remember being his guest several times at his ranch the “Lazy6” in Montrose Colorado. Bob spoke with such enthusiasm about Micronesia, its people and had a deep affection, indeed a love for them. Air Mike’s, operations in and out of Saipan during the Trust Territory days were frequent and reliable. In those days, and up to as recently as June 2004, Continental provided a reasonable service to the people of Saipan and the CNMI. Then with the inception of a new “master strategic operating plan” it was decided to reduce jet service out of Saipan and replace it with prop jet aircraft, the ATR 42/72, operated by its affiliate Cape Air.
Bob Six believed strongly in the concept of being a corporate friend of the community, and assisting in anyway possible. Especially when the health and lives of residents were in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, Cape Air and the ATR aircraft cannot handle Medevac or stretcher patients who are in dire need of medical referral. The aircraft is NOT well suited for the local environment and is NOT certified by the FAA to carry patient oxygen.
Therefore CNMI citizens and residents must now travel from 12 to 16 hours for medical referral to Manila, and at considerable additional expense to them and the Commonwealth Health Center.
Do you think the executives of Continental both in Guam and Houston care about that? .I think not!
Then there are the thousands and thousands of contract workers who reside throughout the CNMI, who are required to leave at least once annually and return to the Philippines. With current immigration regulations, they cannot transit Guam without a visa, and are required to fly via Seoul on Asiana or Northwest Via Tokyo or Nagoya to Manila. This is a 12-16 hour trip one way.
Do you think the executives of Continental both in Guam and Houston care about them? I think not!
How about local citizens and residents who have homes or fly frequently via Manila to other destinations in Southeast Asia, who now have to fly north to go south, at considerable extra expense in time and money.
Do you think the executives of Continental both in Guam and Houston care about them? I think not!
I am sure Bob Six is probably rolling around in his grave and frustrated at those who followed him who have forgotten his vision of service to the community.
Then there are the local employees of Continental, whose lives have been disrupted.
Do you think the executives of Continental in Guam and Houston truly care about them? I think not!
There is NO doubt that the cost of aviation fuel is high and getting higher daily. Perhaps rather than canceling all jet service completely, a more pragmatic and caring approach to all concerned would have been to reduce service to one flight a week. I am positive, that service would operate nearly full every week. As it stands now the flights the last number of weeks have been extremely full.
Bill O’Reilly of Fox News dispenses what he calls the “pin head or patriot” award.
My question now is this: Is Continental going to rethink its decision because of the damage and hurt it is causing the community and become a community “Patriot”? Or will it continue with this selfish, and stupid plan, earning itself the “Pin Head” award…and certifying it is NO FRIEND TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CNMI and SAIPAN?
So Continental…what is it?
JIM ROSS
Dandan, Saipan
