CPA defers action on new terminal system

The installation of common use terminal equipment at the Saipan International Airport is unreasonable and too costly, according to Asiana Airlines.

“We support the idea to make Saipan International Airport more modernized. However, it is a drastic change with no support from the airlines that will be affected directly [by] it,” said Kim Young Jon, Asiana station manager for Saipan.

On Thursday, the Commonwealth Ports Authority again deferred action on the proposed regulations making the utilization of the new terminal system mandatory for all airlines at the Saipan airport.

CPA executive director Carlos Salas said the board of directors needed more time to study the proposal. The plan has been under discussion for at least four months now.

At least two of the four major airlines have expressed opposition to the proposal: Northwest Airlines and recently, Asiana.

In a letter to CPA, Asiana’s Kim maintained that the carrier’s main office in Seoul, Korea would not support the plan because it believed that the benefits from the new equipment did not justify the installation cost.

“The installation of CUTE at Saipan International Airport will increase our annual costs significantly without any benefit in the short term,” Kim said.

She noted that currently, Asiana operates one flight daily on low peak and ten flights a week on high peak seasons. Therefore, she said, the cost of the CUTE system divided into four airlines “does not seem reasonable.”

Kim added that Asiana has been using the same terminal system for many years. The transition from our current system to CUTE will definitely be a long process. Having to retrain employees will consume time and interfere with passenger service. The level of standard we maintain should be consistent without interference,” she said.

The common use terminal equipment will allow the staff of any airline to use their respective systems and access their data on any workstation throughout the airport whenever they need to serve passengers.

Currently, each airline has its own check-in counter and terminal gate. As a result, congestion occurs at one area each time there is a departing flight, while the rest of the facilities are left idle.

Airlines that have reportedly expressed support for the project are Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines. (Agnes E. Donato)