Petition out against JAL withdrawal

Faced with the possible pullout of Japan Airlines from Saipan, the Japanese Business Executive Committee is urging local residents to sign a petition that is now being circulated on island that would ask JAL management to continue its services to the islands.

The group, in a meeting yesterday morning that drew more than 50 members and friends, also reiterated its recommendation that the government send a delegation to Japan to plead the CNMI’s case with the management of JAL.

Members said that the recent news about Japan Airlines’ plan in withdrawing its air service to Saipan is causing a lot of worries and headaches for both businessmen and citizens alike.

“This worrisome feeling is shared by the CNMI residents, Japanese businessmen, contract workers from the Philippines, Bangladesh and all other nationalities in the CNMI. People are worried about the great impact of JAL’s withdrawal on the CNMI economy,” the group said. “With the recent downsizing and closing of some factories in the garment sector, JAL’s announcement…seemed rather rude and non-caring to some people.”

The group pointed out that, for over three decades, JAL has enjoyed flying to Saipan and made some profit, expanding into the hotel and shopping mall business.

Members of the committee strongly recommend that Gov. Juan N. Babauta or Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente and leaders of the business sector—both Japanese and local—go to Japan as soon as possible and meet top management officials of JAL to plead the continuation of the Saipan service.

“Although it may not be on the same level of service, perhaps with lesser frequencies and using smaller type, fuel-efficient airplanes will be sufficient,” the group said.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta said that the Marianas Visitors Authority will go to Japan “possibly next week” to talk with JAL executives and to meet with other airline companies, including Northwest, to convince them to take up any slack that JAL could cause. MVA is urging him to join the delegation, Babauta added.

The Japanese Business Executive Committee, a group of locally-based Japanese businessmen, is also encouraging CNMI residents and those working on the islands to sign the petition now circulating in the islands to convince JAL of the need to keep its flights.

The group said the petition was initiated by members of the travel industry and other concerned businessmen.

“We need as many signatures as possible so we can impressively put pressure on the Japanese, U.S. government and especially JAL,” said the group.

If these strategies fail to convince JAL officials, the group suggested that the CNMI—through the U.S. government—put pressure on the government of Japan to designate another Japanese carrier to fill the gap that would happen if JAL pullout completely on Oct. 1 this year.

“We should be aggressive in pursuing these strategies since it takes time to get actions on these areas,” said the group. “We strongly urge the leaders of the CNMI to take a very active position on this matter since Japan is 70 percent of the CNMI tourist market, of which over 45 percent are coming via JAL.”

They said that doing nothing or delaying action will significantly hurt the CNMI economy since many tour companies have started not booking tours from Saipan starting Oct. 1 using JAL.

“The snowball effect is fast spreading in Japan with an average of 2 or 3 media dailies carrying articles of JAL flights suspension to Saipan.”

“It is therefore imperative that we all be concerned with the JAL’s pullout from Saipan. Although you might not be directly working or owning a business in the travel industry, the taxes contributed to the CNMI comes from the travel industry touches every person living in our lovely islands. Through such tax contributions coming from the travel industry, people residing here in the CNMI receives benefits in providing money for education, hospital services, public safety and other numerous services that the government provide the public.”

Prior to the opening of the Saipan/Tokyo route on October 1, 1977, both Japanese and the CNMI residents were lobbying the governments of Japan and the United States to have this direct service started so that people will further improve and expand the close cultural, historical, economical and family ties that the people of Japan and the CNMI have enjoyed prior to World War II. (PR)