Ramon B. Camacho, chairman of the council, told Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, that now is the time for the CNMI to offer flight privileges for carriers seeking to serve routes in the Pacific out of Japan’s Haneda International Airport.
“United Parcel Service Inc., American Airlines, Continental, U.S. Airways Group Inc., Hawaiian Holdings Inc. and Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. are reportedly among the U.S. carriers that would have unlimited flight access between the two countries under the new open skies pact,” Camacho wrote to Manglona.
“All Nippon Airlines, Japan Air Lines and other Japanese carriers could now partner with U.S.-based airlines in serving international routes, of which the CNMI is considered one originating from Japan,” Camacho added. “With the evolving open skies pact, it is the right time for the CNMI to approach the industry anew with renewed spirit for constructive and mutually beneficial accommodations in terms of flight privileges and status.”
JAL pulled out its 14 flights a week between Saipan and Tokyo in late 2005.
The Japanese arrival rate has plunged since then although Delta Airlines picked up some of the slots that JAL left.
Asiana Airlines also flies direct between key Japanese cities and Saipan but Japanese arrivals remain low.
Camacho said flights from Haneda could potentially address this problem.
“The CNMI needs to immediately initiate direct talks with Japanese carriers such as All Nippon Airline or Japan Air Lines to entice these airlines to consider serving the CNMI route in partnership with or without a U.S. carrier like Continental or Delta,” he said.
“The CNMI should also be prepared to negotiate a favorable landing and service opportunity packet similar with Japanese and/or U.S. carriers akin to or better than the agreement Continental Airlines secured from Guam Airport Authority, which eventually led Continental and Air Micronesia to choose Guam over the CNMI as its main hub in serving the Asia Pacific Region,” he added.
The council official also suggested that the CNMI initiate talks with Manila-based carriers with connecting flights to Guam and Japan to serve the Saipan route.
“Unlike Narita Airport, however, Haneda is conveniently located in the Tokyo area…. This convenience for travelers out of Haneda should give the airlift industry an edge compared to having to take a day or two off work simply to commute to
Narita for a short three-hour hop to Saipan,” he said.
