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CPA cuts enplanement cost by 7.8 percent
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Posted on Aug 25 2004
The Commonwealth Ports Authority spent an average of $15 per enplaned passenger in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, posting a 7.8-percent cost reduction as compared with the same period in FY 2003.
The cost per enplaned passenger, or CEP, refers to the amount spent by the Commonwealth Ports Authority to service each passenger departing from any of the CNMI’s three airports. It is calculated by dividing the CPA airport division’s total operating expenses by the number of departing passengers.
CPA data showed that a total of 561,247 passengers departed from CNMI airports from October 2003 to July 2004. During this period, CPA had total operating expenses amounting $8.42 million.
About 90 percent, or 503,484 of the enplaned passengers departed from the Saipan International Airport, where all international flights—except for some charter flights—are operated. The FY 2004 figure was the highest of the past five years, and showed a 16.2-percent increase from the FY 2003 number.
The Saipan airport had operating costs of $6.9 million, and therefore spent $13.72 per enplaned passenger.
The slight increase in traffic also caused some improvement in the enplanement costs at the Rota and Tinian airports.
During the first 10 months of FY 2004, Rota serviced 25,853 passengers—or 4 percent more than during the first 10 months of FY 2003.
CPA-Rota spent a total of $836,344 during this period. This translates to a CEP of $32.35—more than double the enplanement cost on Saipan. Nevertheless, Rota’s CEP for the first 10 months of this year showed a 10-percent reduction as compared with the same period in 2003.
A total of 31,910 passengers departed from Tinian International Airport since the start of the fiscal year, registering a 23.9-percent increase over last year’s figure.
CPA disbursed $675,534 for personnel, maintenance, and other expenses for the operation of the Tinian airport during this period; it spent $21.17 per passenger.
