This was according to Saipan airport manager Ed Mendiola when asked by the Variety recently.
“Any additional airlines would mean additional airline seats that would bring in additional flights to the CNMI, and that would mean more tourists and visitors coming here,” Mendiola said.
Currently, only eight airlines are providing flight services to the CNMI.
Mendiola said having more tourists and visitors would create a ripple effect that would benefit the various businesses on island.
“More tourists would mean more people would stay at our hotels, eat at our restaurants, buy stuff from our stores and avail of our services. It means more people would spend their money here, and the island can benefit a lot from it,” Mendiola added.
Last month, Variety learned that representatives of PacificFlier, a Palau-based airline, was here on Saipan for a “fact-finding” mission to learn about the CNMI’s airline regulations and requirements and to see if the airlines can include the CNMI among its list of destinations.
Variety earlier reported that some officials from PacificFlier met with Gov, Benigno R. Fitial to discuss the possibility of PacificFlier providing air service to and from the CNMI.
The Koror-based PacificFlier serves travelers from Palau, the Philippines, Guam and Australia.
PacificFlier is composed of aircraft and airline professionals, freight and passenger marketing experts, government and regulatory advisors from the Philippines, Palau, Guam and Australia.
