Airport revenue up 8 percent

Total airport revenues posted an 8-percent increase during the first seven months of fiscal year 2004 due to increased airport activities provided by several charter flights and additional tourist traffic.

In a report submitted to the Commonwealth Ports Authority, comptroller George Palican disclosed that airport revenues surged to $4.76 million during the first seven months of the fiscal year—an increase of $682,388 over the amount collected during the same period in 2003.

On aviation-related activities, the report noted a 17-percent increase during the period under review mainly due to arrival of several new flights, including the Saipan-Manila direct air service, China Southern Air and several other charter flights from China.

However, non-aviation revenues decreased by 7 percent or about $174,213 less than the revenues collected in Oct. 2002-Apr. 2003.

The CPA April 2004 Financial Report also noted that personnel expenses decreased by 4 percent during the first seven months of the fiscal year due to implemented budget austerity measures. However, non-personnel expenses soared by 43 percent as a result of the additional expenses in contracts, repairs and insurance expenses.

Because of this, CPA’s operating expenses increased by 2 percent from $5.83 million in Oct. 2002-Apr. 2003 to $5.95 million during the same period in fiscal year 2004.

Also, the report noted that enplanements at the Saipan International Airport increased by 6 percent or 20,744 departures more than the seven-month figure in FY2003, while deplanement increased by 16 percent or 50,306 more than the figure recorded in fiscal year 2003’s first seven months.

Aircraft landings at the Saipan International Airport also posted growth during the period covered, with CPA recording an 18-percent increase of 1,506 more landings than the 8,482 posted during the first seven months of fiscal year 2003.

The CPA has been posting consecutive increases in its airport activities since the beginning of this fiscal year. The CPA recorded at first an estimated 1-percent increase in tourist arrivals in January 2004 with 56,353 passengers who disembarked at the airport during the first four months of the fiscal year 2004.

Arrival figures in fiscal year 2003 showed that the Saipan airport received 60,231 visitors, higher than the 56,353 passengers posted in the first four months of fiscal year 2004.

But CPA executive director Carlos H. Salas said the difference—3, 878—was due to diverted flights from Guam due to typhoon Pongsona in December 2003. Compared with the three previous fiscal years, the 2004 report is showing positive growth.

In Oct. 2003-Jan. 2004, CPA recorded a total of 56,353 passengers; 45,524 passengers were recorded in 2002; 49,347 in 2001; and 50,406 in 2000.

In October 2003, the Saipan airport recorded 45,946 passengers; 49,223 passengers were registered in November 2003; 49,001 in December 2003 and 56,353 in January 2004.

Salas said that a slow but sure rebound in tourist traffic in the CNMI is anticipated this fiscal year.