Asiana hikes daily daytime flights

Asiana Airlines is once again increasing its service from South Korea to Saipan, this time with new daytime flights featuring larger aircraft.

Effective Oct. 26, three new flights will bring in tourists from Incheon, South Korea, to Saipan on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Added to the existing four-time weekly service, this now means that the CNMI will enjoy “3D” (Daily, Daytime, Direct) service from Korea’s largest airport.

The new route will be served by a Boeing 767, configured with 15 business class seats and 235 economy seats. This is an upgrade from the current Airbus 321, which holds 177 passengers. The overall increase in seat capacity is 54,000 annually. With an anticipated average load factor of 80 percent, this means that the CNMI may receive as much as 43,000 additional visitors each year.

The Korean market has expanded rapidly with the market commitment of Asiana Airlines—from 98,403 Korean tourists in fiscal year 2007 to 110,012 in 2008—or a 12 percent increase. With the additional flights Asiana is announcing, the projected arrivals for FY 2009 could increase by as much as 39 percent, to 153,012 Korean tourists.

According to Kwang Joong Kim, general manager for the Regional Sales Office on Saipan, the new service is planned as a year-round schedule, but could fluctuate with actual demand.

In addition to this announcement, on Dec. 19, Asiana plans to open a new direct route between Saipan and Osaka, Japan.

“We are very proud that Asiana will be flying 21 times a week to the CNMI by the end of this year,” said Kim. “Obviously, we are planning these additions because of Kumho Asiana’s investment in Laolao Bay Golf Resort. We plan to sell golf memberships in Korea and Japan in the future. At the same time, we are pleased that our airline and our sister company at Laolao are part of the local community and are able to help the local economy.”

Speaking on behalf of the Marianas Visitors Authority, board chair Jerry Tan praised Asiana for the airline’s partnership and commitment to growing tourism in the CNMI.

“We are so appreciative of all that Asiana Airlines and its owning company, Kumho Asiana, is doing to help develop our local tourism industry,” said Tan. “These additional flights will bring a much-needed boost to many businesses throughout the industry, not to mention the spillover in increased economic benefits to boost our local economy.”

“We look forward to promoting these new flights with Asiana and wish them much success in their expanded service,” he added. [B][I](PR)
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