STAR Marianas Air on Wednesday and Thursday resumed its regular passenger air service for Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
SMA announced in its website Tuesday that following a meeting with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, it would resume flights between Saipan and Tinian on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, and flights between Saipan and Rota on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021.
The flight schedules can be seen at https://www.starmarianasair.com/passenger-flights
In an interview, Sen. Paul A. Manglona said the people of Rota welcome this great news and thanked Star Marianas for reinstating air service between the islands.
“We have residents that need to travel regularly for medical referrals to Saipan or Guam. Cargo services are provided on a daily basis by Star Marianas also. It is my hope that in the new year, [the Commonwealth Ports Authority] and Star Marianas can continue to work out their differences as we try to recover from this pandemic,” the senator said.
Two weeks ago, Star Marianas resumed its “on-demand and air taxi” operations between Saipan, Tinian and Rota, while the negotiation for a “mutually satisfactory solution” between the airline and CPA continued.
SMA and CPA have agreed to meet within 60 days to discuss and resolve their major disputes pertaining to CPA’s fees and charges, which the airline said are “excessive [and] not based on fair market value.”
Star Marianas said since both parties seem to have substantial differences on the amount of fees that it must pay CPA, a third party participation is appropriate.
