First Narita flight lands on Saipan

The first of many new Northwest Airlines flights from Tokyo’s Narita Airport touched down on Saipan early this morning, a landmark event opening a new daily service schedule for travelers and marking the culmination of several months of negotiations between the airline, travel agents and local officials.

The new flights are expected to draw thousands of new visitors to the Commonwealth, observers say, giving the local tourism sector a needed boost. Gov. Benigno Fitial applauded the landing as “the most important single step forward for the rebirth of our tourism industry” since Northwest agreed to re-launch its daily service from Osaka last year.

Arriving passengers this morning got a warm greeting complete with leis made from shells presented to them by the tourism office.

Northwest’s additional flights from Tokyo, which could bring more than 74,000 new tourists each year according to some estimates, come amid tough times for other local air services. Rising fuel costs and low sales prompted Continental Airlines to cancel its direct flights between Saipan and Manila in June, and also forced Freedom Airlines for the first time in years to hike its prices.

Air services from key tourism markets, however, appear to be seeing some growth. In addition to the new Tokyo flights, Asiana Airlines is poised to increase service from Korea, tourism officials say.

The added Tokyo flights could prove a major economic boon to the Commonwealth, according to statistics from the Marianas Visitors Authority. Visitors from Japan spend an average of $1,332 in the Commonwealth during each stay, the statistics note. This tourist spending, multiplied by the number of passengers the new flights will carry, means Northwest’s service could inject more than $80 million into the region this year.

“The MVA has invested steadily to market our islands in Japan as an ideal destination for Japanese tourists,” said Jerry Tan, chairman of the MVA’s board of directors, in a statement. “Today, this investment will be paid back many, many times over.”

The daily service to Tokyo, beginning July 2, will depart each day from the local airport at 5 am each day, arriving in Japan at 7:40. Flights from Tokyo depart at 10:45 pm and arrive around 1:25 am, according to a statement from Northwest.

“We appreciate the support of the CNMI community and are pleased to be adding incremental daily services between Saipan and Tokyo,” said Richard Parsons, Northwest’s general manager for Guam and Saipan. “Northwest will continue to contribute to the community by bringing more travelers from our Tokyo hub.”