Teno, Continental discuss plans for Northern Marianas

In a positive step to bridge differences, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday met with top officials of Continental Micronesia to discuss concerns and plans by the regional carrier to help the CNMI boost its ailing tourism industry.

While mum on the future of their business relationships, both parties agreed to work closely to assist each other in promoting the islands and in bringing additional tourists into the Commonwealth.

Continental Micronesia President Bill Meehan and Wally Dias, staff to the vice president, paid a visit to the governor in his office in Capitol Hill where they met in closed door for an hour.

The Guam-based airline — a subsidiary of Continental Airlines in Houston, Texas and the largest in the Western Pacific region — disclosed its plans concerning the CNMI, but the governor declined to reveal details.

“They have indicated that they have such a plan. However, it is a few months away from now before they will review the plan. They have a plan and they want to meet with us before they reveal the plan,” Mr. Tenorio told reporters after the meeting.

Asked if there will be additional flights to Saipan from key cities in Asia, the local chief executive pointed out that Continental has to look into that possibility.

“They want to work with us together to find a solution on additional flights,” he explained.
“It appears very positive since both us will cooperate . . . to improve not only our relationship with the company but also the scheduling of flight service.”

Mr. Meehan’s visit came a day after it was reported that the governor is mulling over a plan to support the protest lodged earlier by the Commonwealth Ports Authority against Continental Micronesia’s continued treatment of Saipan and Guam as co-terminals.

CPA officials opposed the carrier’s application with the Federal Aviation Administration to resume direct flights between Guam and Sapporo and Sendai in Japan.

They maintained that Continental’s alleged low priority to Saipan has impacted on the local tourism sector as passengers from its major markets in Japan have found it inconvenient to take connecting flights from Guam’s airport to the island.

But the airline has repeatedly defended the decision to drop the nonstop service to Saipan, citing low passenger haul as a result of the recession in Japan and elsewhere in Asia.

Although their present relationship is far from what it used to be before the economic crisis that hit the CNMI, there have been efforts to mend differences in recent months.

At the same time, the island government has been trying to lure other international carriers and existing airlines like Northwest, Asiana and Japan Airlines to fill in the void left by the cutback in Continental flights. (Benhur C. Saladores)