Mandarin Air exceeds target load factor

Travelers from Taiwan are slowly positioning themselves as the next biggest market for the Northern Marianas tourism industry as the Taipei-based Mandarin Airlines reported that it has exceeded the 80 percent load factor target in the first three months of its flight services to the island.

Mandarin Air, deploying aircraft with an average of 83 percent load factor, brought in 3,476 passengers into the Northern Marianas on its twice-per-week air transport service between Taipei and Saipan since it started its operations here in May.

The carrier reported the highest load factor in July that reached 91 percent. Saipan station manager Charlie Ling disclosed increasing passenger haul with its 73 percent load factor in May growing to 87 percent the following month.

Mr. Ling also mentioned that Mandarin Air has scheduled to deploy 69 flights until the end of the year, while raising hopes the carrier might be able to increase its flight services to Saipan.

“We are planning to increase flights by next spring. We are having flight dispatch problems right now since we don’t have enough aircraft to operate, but once we are able to lease 2-3 Boeing 737-800 next year, we can operate more flights to Saipan next year,” he added.

Mandarin Airlines Senior Vice President H.H. Sun previously said the carrier has been receiving a good support system from the Marianas Visitors Authority, as well as other CNMI tour-related organizations and travel industry players, in the promotion of the islands as a prime destination for Taiwanese travelers.

He added company executives are satisfied with the performance of the carrier’s new flight services to Saipan, as he raised hopes that the demand for more airline seats is not going to be a far-fetched possibility.

Mr. Sun is confident more travelers from Taiwan will find the Northern Marianas as a prime destination especially when promotional efforts are intensified through cooperation from both CNMI and Taiwan organizations and tour agents.

This early, Mandarin Airlines is already exploring the possibility of dispatching additional flights into Saipan primarily due to the enthusiasm and interest shown by Taiwan travelers into taking a trip in the Northern Marianas.

While Taiwanese travelers have a variety of choices when it comes to resort destinations, Mr. Sun said Saipan holds the distinction of still being in touch with nature, of having rich and diverse cultures, and of providing the quality of public safety measures.

The Northern Marianas has great potentials to lure travelers from Taiwan because of the islands’ wide variety of attractions that range from water sports at the Saipan’s blue beaches to the casino gaming activities on Tinian and Rota’s natural landscape.

With the beginning of direct air service between Taipei and Saipan, Commonwealth officials are expecting to get a good share of over five million Taiwanese who take overseas travels once every year.

At least one in every four Taiwanese travel abroad every year although mainland China has remained the most popular destination in recent years. The island-nation, which is home to over 22 million people, has one of the best standards of living in the world.

Mandarin Air uses B737-800 aircraft in all of its charter flights between Taipei and Saipan. The aircraft can accommodate 158 passengers.

The airline company is confident that it will be able to bring in at least 118 people per flight to the CNMI. It has pledged to deploy 96 flights from Taipei to Saipan on its first year.