China Eastern will resume its twice weekly Shanghai-Saipan flights starting Jan. 11, 2006, close to five months after the charter flights were suspended because of the decline of tourists coming in from China.
Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino chairman Michael Kwan said he is pleased about the resumption of the Shanghai-Saipan flights and the development would mean an additional 27,000 tourist arrivals annually to the CNMI.
He added that he conservatively estimates that the estimated 27,000 additional tourists from the Middle Kingdom will spend over $27 million during their stay in the Commonwealth and that means an additional $27 million infused into the local economy.
China Eastern will use A300 airplane with a seating capacity of 262 seats for their resumed Shanghai-Saipan flights.
In collaboration with Century Tours, Kwan said Tinian Dynasty was able to re-negotiate successfully with China Eastern Airlines to resume the twice-weekly flights operating every Friday and Monday from Shanghai to Saipan.
Kwan said flights will depart from Pudong Airport at 20:00 and arrive Saipan at 02:15 the following morning. Return flights to Shanghai will depart Saipan at 04:00 and arrive Shanghai at 05:00 every Saturday and Tuesday.
China Eastern made its last charter flight from Shanghai to Saipan in Aug. 24, 2007. It was suspended after the carrier asked Tinian Dynasty and Century Tours for a new charter fee hike.
The charter flight originally was launched in January 2004 and became regular in July 2004.
The Marianas Visitors Authority remains bullish about visitor arrivals from China. During its biannual membership meeting last week, MCA chairman Jerry Tan said the CNMI's tourism body expects the market to increase from 45,000 in 2007 to 52,000 next year.
Last month, visitor arrivals from China dropped by 13 percent from 3,239 in November 2006 to 2,821 in November 2007.
Home | Weather | Advertising | Classifieds | Subscription | Contact
Us | About Us | Archives
©2006 Saipan Tribune. All Rights Reserved
