By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Marianas Visitors Authority says Philippine Airlines’ planned resumption of direct Manila–Saipan service in October will restore a key transportation link for leisure, business, and medical travelers while supporting the CNMI’s broader tourism-recovery strategy.
“The Philippines remains a promising market for the Marianas, and the Marianas Visitors Authority looks forward to the resumption of direct Manila–Saipan flights later this year,” MVA Acting Managing Director Judy C. Torres told Variety. “This route has proven to be a valuable link for leisure travelers and a convenient channel for business and medical travel for the Marianas community overall.”
Torres said the return of the route will also reopen opportunities for market diversification by reconnecting Saipan to Philippine Airlines’ broader network of destinations across Asia. She added that during the suspension period, MVA has continued destination-awareness efforts, trade communications, and market-readiness initiatives through close coordination with travel partners.
She said the agency also plans to revisit the media familiarization tour that was postponed in April due to Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
“Activities in the Philippine market remain an integral part of MVA’s broader efforts toward tourism recovery and diversification,” Torres said.
Flights suspended through October
Philippine Airlines earlier announced that its Manila–Saipan flights (PR 2571/2572) will remain suspended through Oct. 22, 2026, as part of a broader adjustment to its international network due to what the carrier described as “changing conditions affecting global aviation.”
The airline also suspended its Cebu–Osaka service from July 1 through Oct. 24, with limited operating dates scheduled in July, August, and September.
PAL apologized for the disruption and said passengers with affected bookings may rebook within 60 days without penalty, convert their tickets to travel credits, or request a full refund.
Cargo shipments on the suspended routes will also be affected as the airline coordinates alternative routing options with logistics partners.
Philippine visa-waiver inclusion
The anticipated return of Manila–Saipan flights comes as the governors of Guam and the CNMI have renewed their call for the Philippines to be added to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, a move they say would strengthen regional travel and support economic recovery.
In a May 21 letter to federal officials, Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and CNMI Gov. David M. Apatang said the administrative action would align U.S. immigration policy with broader economic and diplomatic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The governors wrote that adding the Philippines would advance three key objectives: reinforcing a longstanding U.S. treaty alliance, expanding regional air connectivity, and diversifying the visitor economies of Guam and the CNMI as both jurisdictions continue to recover from pandemic-era and regional disruptions.
They emphasized that the request applies only to temporary visits under the existing program and would not confer immigration status or provide a pathway to residency or citizenship.
The governors also said they support maintaining all current vetting and border-security requirements in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Leon Guerrero and Apatang said they would welcome enhanced safeguards modeled after the CNMI’s Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program and are open to a phased or pilot implementation subject to federal review.
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.
