Previous Story
CPA goes ahead with CUTE despite opposition
|
Posted on May 23 2005
The Commonwealth Ports Authority decided yesterday to go ahead with the planned utilization of common use terminal equipment at the Saipan International Airport despite opposition from two airlines.
The CPA board of directors, however, instructed management to work with the airlines in putting together a phased approach for the implementation of the new system to ensure minimum impact on the airlines’ operation.
“We will meet with the airlines in three weeks to discuss their specific concerns. This project is mutually beneficial for the airport and the airlines; it’s just a matter of timing for certain airlines. So we will make sure that we take everybody’s concerns into account,” said CPA executive director Carlos Salas.
He also said that CPA would have to create a new timeline for the project, in view of the board’s instruction.
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.
However, 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.
At least two carriers operating at the Saipan airport—Northwest Airlines and Asiana Airlines—are opposing the use of the new equipment, due primarily to the investment they recently made in their separate terminal systems.
Northwest also argues that there was no need to change the current system, as no additional airlines are set—or have announced intent—to upgrade their operations in the CNMI.
For its part, Asiana said the benefits from the new equipment did not justify the installation cost.
