Saipan-Rota flights now cost nearly the same as Rota-Guam flights

As previously announced, Star Marianas Airlines has raised its airfare prices, with flights from Saipan to Rota now nearly the same price as traveling from Rota to Guam.

Over a month ago, the Commonwealth Ports Authority implemented a massive increase in its rental and landing fees in response to its lack of funding as the CNMI’s tourism industry continues to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the CPA fee increases taking effect last Oct. 1, so did SMA’s increase in airfares.

Based on the increase, a roundtrip ticket from Rota to Guam is now about $400 while a one-way ticket is $200. Meanwhile, as of Oct. 1, a roundtrip ticket from Rota to Saipan is about $350, while a one-way ticket is $175.

Because of this, Rota community members who have the means to travel are now more inclined to put in the extra couple of dollars to fly to Guam.

Aside from raising its Rota-Saipan route fares, SMA has also raised its Saipan-Tinian fares. SMA now charges $75 per one-way ticket from Saipan to Tinian for local residents; the airline used to charge local passengers just $55 per one-way ticket.

In a previous statement from SMA president Shaun Christian, he said the increase in prices is a direct result of CPA’s decision increase its fees and rates come fiscal year 2024.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, CPA adopted a 90% increase in landing fees for both the Saipan airport’s main terminal and the commuter terminals for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

In addition, the CPA board also adopted a 79% increase in its current terminal rental rate for both the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport’s main terminal and for the commuter terminals for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

The CPA terminal rental rates for the Saipan airport’s main terminal goes up from $19.49 per square foot to $34.92. The terminal rental rates for all CNMI commuter terminals is now up from $7.79 to $13.97.

As for landing fees, CPA will now be charging international airline carriers $15.25 per thousand pounds of certified maximum gross landing weight of the aircraft; they were previously being charged $8.01.

As for CNMI commuter terminals, the 90% increase would bring landing fees up from $4.81 to $9.15.