CPA: It has no control over Cape Air operational issues

While the Commonwealth Ports Authority has received public concerns and phone calls in regards to Cape Air’s recent run of cancelled flights, CPA acting director Ed Mendiola said the agency does not interfere in the business operations of airlines and that it only has a tenant relationship with them.

In an interview yesterday, Mendiola acknowledged the public complaints as a “legitimate concern” but emphasized CPA’s role at the airport is separate from Cape Air’s operations.

“Damage on aircraft and how soon they repair it [is] really not [our responsibility]. We provide the facility for them, they fly in,” Mendiola said.

He noted that Cape Air is not required to report to CPA on mechanical or technical issues, and noted that while Cape Air has a ground handling service crew, he is not sure if they have a mechanic team on site.

“They handle their own [operations],” Mendiola said.

He mentioned that, like the public, he sometimes finds things out about Cape Air’s issues through the newspaper.

Throughout the interview, he described the relationship CPA has with its airlines as “good” and cooperative but that ultimately CPA has “no control” over these airlines’ operations.

“We have control of the airport. Now if we see something that is going to affect the safety of others, we can step in and say ‘that is unsafe’ and maybe do something about it, but we’re not really in the business to do so. We’re here to make sure that the airport is safe to use and convenient for the traveling passengers,” Mendiola said.

When asked about Rose Hocog’s petition that calls on the CPA board and other government and federal agencies to demand improvements in Cape Air’s service and aircraft, Mendiola said the CPA remains neutral in such matters.

“We try not to get involved in those things,” he said.

When asked how a concerned public could help airlines improve their services if not through government agencies, Mendiola said he was not in the position to suggest these means.

Cape Air/ United is the sole airline offering flights between Guam, Rota, and Saipan.

Mendiola said he received a call the day before asking about the status of Cape Air but was only able to refer the caller to Cape Air’s phone number.

In an email response to this reporter’s queries about passenger compensation, aircraft, and technical issues, a Cape Air spokeperson referred Saipan Tribune to a statement United Airlines released Monday.

The media release, which was published in the Tuesday edition of the Saipan Tribune, did not elaborate on the mechanical issues faced by the Cape Air but assured safe passage when flights are up and running.