Rota mayor turns to FAA for airport expansion

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona is asking immediate assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration for the improvement and rehabilitation of the island’s international airport runway and facilities.

In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Acting Manager for Airports District Office Daniel Matsumoto, Mr. Manglona stressed the need to improve and upgrade runway and terminal facilities of the Rota International Airport.

“The island of Rota is now ready to embark into a major tourist destination. However, the impediment of our success is because of the port and desperate condition of our airport runway and facilities,” he told Mr. Matsumoto.

Mr. Manglona emphasized that prospects are bright for the island’s economic program which is not expected to take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.

“We need direct flights from major international destinations and from economically developed Asian countries. We cannot depend on Pacific Island Aviation and Freedom Air for service,” the mayor pointed out.

He added a jet service to and from the island would only become possible if and when airport runway and terminal facilities are rehabilitated and improved, thereby, securing the safety of incoming and outgoing passengers.

Mr. Manglona underscored that continuous delay in improvement of the Rota International Airport would be counterproductive in the local government’s serious efforts to advance the island’s economic potentials.

“We strongly solicit your blessings to approve our application for FAA funding for our airport runway surface treatment…We need to extend our runway. This is very important to lure in international flights,” he said.

Mr. Manglona earlier asked assurance from the Commonwealth Ports Authority on its commitment to undertake improvement of the island’s international air transport facility, amid reports on plans to expand both Saipan and Tinian airports.

The mayor pointed out that to enable Rota to foster growth in the visitor industry, its air transport facility should be able to accommodate larger, wider bodied aircraft normally used by foreign carriers in their international operations.

He added that the current condition of the island’s airport hampers Rota’s economic growth. “We want to develop and grow. Economy is our administration’s top priority.”

He explained that Rota’s economic success depends on good and reliable air transportation, adding that improvement of the facility’s runway is pre-requisite for its economic development to stimulate Rota’s growth, especially tourism.