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JAL adds flights despite pullout
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Posted on Aug 01 2005
Japan Airlines announced yesterday the addition of five flights to Saipan in October, despite the airline’s planned pullout on Oct. 1.
JAL’s Regional Manager Shinichi Yoshida, who disclosed this in a meeting with Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday, said the flights from Tokyo to Saipan will occur on Oct. 16, 18, 21, 23, and 26.
While this does not make up for the regular daily flights, The Goveror’s Office said this is a sign that JAL will continue to serve the Saipan market as they restructure their worldwide schedule.
In his meeting with the governor, Yoshida presented Babauta with a letter from JAL’s chief executive officer Toshiyuki Shinmachi, confirming their final decision to suspend operations to Saipan after October.
Babauta met with Shinmachi last month and asked that the airline reconsider its decision based on the fact that most of their flights are close to fully booked.
In his letter, Shinmachi states, “Upon our review, we reevaluated both your propositions, namely to extend the operations until the end of the fiscal year, and the retention of the Osaka flights. I regret that our studies have revealed that our conclusions could not be changed, and with the critical profitability calculations, and the prospective timing of our aircraft sales, we have no choice but to suspend our flights in October, as previously proposed.”
Northwest Airlines announced in June that it would begin direct service from Osaka to Saipan in October. This will cover about 40 percent of the seats previously supplied by JAL.
The CNMI government and the tourism industry have put together incentives for other airlines to begin new international flights to the Commonwealth. These include reduced landing fees, a reduction in the departure facility service charge, and possible cash incentives from the Marianas Visitors Authority. (PR)
