THE Commonwealth Ports Authority is working with the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games Organizing Committee as it prepares for the arrivals of athletes and officials participating in the major sports event that the CNMI is hosting from June 17 to 25.
In his report to the CPA board, Executive Director Christopher Tenorio said they are now working to ensure that the arrivals will run smoothly at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
Over 1,300 athletes and more than 400 officials from 20 countries and territories are expected to participate in the Mini Games. Athletes from Fiji and Palau will be arriving on June 9, and the rest are expected to be on Saipan by June 15 and 16, before the opening ceremony on June 17.
They will be competing in nine sports: athletics, badminton, baseball, beach volleyball, golf, tennis, triathlon, va’a (canoe race) and weightlifting.
Busy airport, again
Saipan airport is expected to be busy again Tenorio informed the CPA board. Besides the Mini Games participants, flights from Korea, U.S. and Guam are expected to arrive on a daily basis beginning this month.
He said United Airlines has begun its daily flights on Wednesday, June 1 while Jeju Airlines’ flights from Incheon and Pusan are set for Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Asiana Airlines will have four flights a week beginning July 1.
Since March 30, Air Seoul’s flights have been scheduled for Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Air Busan, for its part, has flights on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Tenorio said CPA has also received confirmation from a new airline operator that will provide inter-island service.
MP Enterprises President Keith Stewart said the new airline — Marianas Southern Airways — will launch an inter-island flight service in July. The airline is a joint venture between Saipan’s MP Enterprises and America’s largest commuter airline, Southern Airways Express.
Christopher Tenorio
