Delegation flies to Japan to plead NMI’s case

A 10-member delegation led by Gov. Juan N. Babauta left for Tokyo yesterday to make a pitch for the continuation of Japan Airlines’ flights to Saipan.

The delegation’s itinerary showed that the group would also be meeting with Northwest Airlines and Japanese government officials during their three-day stay in Japan.

The members of the delegation include Babauta, Marianas Visitor Authority vice chair Marian Aldan-Pierce, MVA board member Seiji Sato, MVA managing director Vicky I. Benavente, Commonwealth Ports Authority chair Joe Lifoifoi, CPA board member Benigno Fejeran, and CPA executive director Carlos Salas.

Completing the group are Senate President Joaquin Adriano, Rep. Joseph Guerrero, and Rep. Arnold Palacios.

The team left on a Japan Airlines flight at 3:50pm yesterday. Staff members of MVA-Japan would meet the CNMI officials at the Narita International Airport and escort them to Asakasa Prince Hotel, where they will be staying in Tokyo.

After a scheduled meeting this morning, the officials will proceed to the JAL office at 1pm for a meeting with JAL president Toshiyuki Shinmachi.

The governor and the rest of the group will discuss possible ways the CNMI government can assist JAL in order for the airline to keep flying to Saipan.

A meeting with Northwest representatives is scheduled for 9am Thursday. In the afternoon, the delegation will meet with U.S. Embassy officials in Tokyo and then with the Japan minister for land infrastructure and transportation.

The group will depart Narita International Airport early Friday morning, with an estimated arrival time of 2:20pm on Saipan.

The Japan trip was organized immediately following the release of reports that JAL would be suspending all its flights to Saipan beginning October, due to high operational costs and low profitability.

The air carrier is expected to make a formal announcement about its plans in July.

The airline’s plan has caused alarm within the local tourism industry. About 50 percent of Japanese visitors to the CNMI reportedly take JALWays flights.

Currently, JAL provides seven weekly DC10 flights between Narita and Saipan and seven weekly Boeing 767 flights from Kansai to Saipan.

Japan is the Northern Marianas’ primary tourism market, comprising 70 percent of the total arrivals to the islands.