Hong Kong Airlines’ return just around the corner

The return of Hong Kong Airlines is fast approaching with the carrier now in the final stages of preparation before it makes its awaited comeback this March.

In a press conference with Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion, he shared that based on communications with Hong Kong Airlines, MVA learned that final conversations are ongoing between the airlines and its partners to finalize the promotion of these flights expected to launch sometime in March.

“We’re still in close communication with stakeholders for Hong Kong Airlines’ flight. From my understanding, they’re still working out some discussion points between the airline, travel agencies, and tour operators who are going to be promoting these flights and selling tickets for these flights.

Concepcion said based on conversations with the airline, the new tentative launch date is March. It was previously reported that Hong Kong Airlines expected to relaunch its Hong Kong- Saipan flights mid-February.

“As of today, the tentative launch is going to be on March, towards the mid or later half of March so that’s very exciting news. I’ll leave it to the airline itself to make the final announcement of when they’ll officially be flying to Saipan. But we’re very excited that Hong Kong Airlines is returning to Saipan four years later,” he said.

Hong Kong Airlines suspended its Hong Kong-Saipan flights back in 2020 and have decided that they’re coming back.

“The flights will be twice a week, A330 Aircraft which is 280 seats per flight. That’s a good number,” Concepcion said.

Concepcion said MVA is optimistic that Hong Kong Airlines will further boost the CNMI’s tourism industry as there is a pent-up demand to travel in the area.

“Hong Kong Airlines is looking at a 12-month program but these things usually extend depending on the success or failure of the flights but we think it’s just right to restart this market. There’s a pent-up demand for people in the Hong Kong area to travel and we are the closest U.S. destination to East Asia so we are in a good position to capture a nice portion of that market,” he said.

The launch of Hong Kong Airlines couldn’t come at a better time with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ruling on the establishment of the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program which is specific to Chinese tourists.

“China was down for a while, but with Hong Kong coming back soon, it opens a door for that region to start the boost in arrivals,” said Concepcion.

Last week, DHS approved the interim final ruling establishing the EVS-TAP and amending the Guam/CNMI Visa Waiver Program. The program would essentially allow visa-free travel for pre-screened travelers from China to the CNMI.

According to the interim final ruling, DHS will require persons intending to travel to the CNMI under the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to submit Form I-736 electronically in advance of travel and receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a flight to Guam or the CNMI. This rule also establishes the EVS-TAP as a restricted sub-program of the G-CNMI VWP.

Under the current visa waiver program regulations, a paper U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form I-736 is presented to Immigration upon arrival.

U.S. lawmakers previously urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to abolish the discretionary parole program, saying it presents a national security risk.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the Hotel Association for the NMI, and CNMI lawmakers have pushed for the establishment of the EVS-TAP in response to the U.S. lawmakers’ efforts.

The CNMI EVS-TAP was first proposed in 2019 and aims to enhance security measures while ensuring the orderly entry of PRC nationals for tourism purposes.