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Air Saipan proponents go ‘strangely quiet’
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Posted on Apr 18 2006
A company that introduced itself as “Air Saipan” and promised to do direct flights between Saipan and Japan—and other key markets—has gone strangely quiet, according to the Commonwealth Ports Authority.
“They never came back. I don’t know why. We gave them everything they asked from us…but up to now we have not heard from them,” said CPA acting executive director Reno Celis said in a recent interview.
He said the company had met with CPA last January on planned direct flights.
During that meeting, the company informed the CPA that it would make its flight to Saipan in early February. When this plan did not materialize, then CPA executive director Lee Cabrera contacted the company through e-mail on Feb. 16.
“We sent them an e-mail but up to now, there’s no response from them. There’s none that I know of,” said Lee.
The mail was addressed to Craig Champion, Air Saipan’s vice president for International Marketing & Business Development.
In the letter, Cabrera asked Air Saipan for a complete copy of its articles of incorporation, a brief corporate background and copy of each principal’s resume.
Cabrera had likewise asked for the company’s certificates or applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation or Federal Aviation Administration “for aircraft worthiness and operating license.”
He said the CPA still “needs to review your progress on complying with CPA’s airport rules and regulations.” These include insurance, airline use agreement, surety bond, and an appointment of an official ground handler.
The company reportedly planned on chartering a Boeing 757 aircraft.
Air Saipan’s stakeholders placed the company’s initial investment at $3 million.
Cabrera said CPA met with Champion and Dave Raybould on Jan. 19, 2006 “regarding Air Saipan’s plan to provide air services between Japan and Saipan.”
