By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
HONG Kong Airlines has proposed adding two more flights to Saipan, according to Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Estrellita “Esther” S. Ada.
In an interview early Monday, Ada said the airline is looking to increase service beginning in May.
“They are planning on it, but we haven’t received confirmation yet — it’s still pending confirmation,” Ada told Variety.
“Hong Kong Airlines wants to add two more flights.”
Hong Kong Airlines currently operates flights to Saipan twice a week — on Sundays and Thursdays.
The proposal comes as T’way Air announced it will suspend its Seoul–Saipan route from May 5 to Oct. 24, citing rising fuel costs, supply constraints, and weaker travel demand tied to the conflict in the Middle East.
The airline informed the Marianas Visitors Authority that global instability has increased operating costs and affected consumer confidence.
According to MVA, Jeju Air will also temporarily suspend its daily Saipan service from March 29 to April 30.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
