CNMI to raise flights woes at APIL gab

Local lawmakers were expected to voice out grievances against the reduction of direct air service to Saipan and urge other international carriers to bring in more tourists to the island during a two-day conference on regional transportation which began on Guam yesterday.

Rep. David M. Apatang, chair of the House committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications, said the meeting organized by the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures would discuss problems facing the region in terms of air service.

“We want to get some ideas as to what we can do to attract airlines to the Micronesian region,” he said in an interview before departing for Guam, along with other members of the CNMI Legislature.

Several legislators from other islands in the region are also attending the conference. APIL groups legislatures of American Samoa, CNMI, Guam, Marshalls, Palau and the Federated States of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.

In a general assembly on Tinian last year, the group prodded Continental Micronesia against downscaling its service in the Western Pacific, expressing concern over a cutback of flights from prime Asian cities.

The move was aimed at quelling growing anxiety by Micronesian governments over the carrier’s decision which came on the heels of the downturn in regional tourism economy due to the recession in Asia, its prime market.

“We will continue ask Continental to help us out especially now we need this economic assistance here,” Apatang explained, adding APIL would also explore the possibility of asking other carriers to offset the flight reduction.

Continental, the largest airline in the region, has defended its move as strictly a business decision because of the low passenger load, island leaders are worried the company action would result to further loss in tourism revenues as direct links to major Asian cities continue to close down.

The U.S. carrier, whose parent company is the Houston-based Continental Airlines, has been servicing Micronesian islands for the last 30 years, with flights from Hawaii and other cities on the mainland as well as Tokyo, Seoul, Manila, Hong Kong and other key cities.

The CNMI government is hoping to tap additional tourist markets by luring other airlines, such as Far Eastern Air Transport of Taiwan and Hawaiian Airlines, to service Guam.

So far, they have yet to reach any agreement.

Meanwhile, Apatang said the Aviation Task Force formed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio last year is still studying several plans that will help increase the number of tourists on the island.

The body will still press the Commonwealth Ports Authority not to raise airport fees to provide incentives to new airlines that will provide service to Saipan.

“We have asked CPA to withhold the increase in fees at this point in time because we need to work together with the airlines,” said Apatang, who sits as member of the task force.

“I don’t think it is right at this time that we increase the fee. We should let the number of tourists to pick up first,” he added.