Rota municipality aims to promote Rota getaway in Guam

Rota dignitaries and members of the Rota community joined Marianas Southern Airways officials and staff last Friday in launching the airline’s inaugural flight from Rota to Guam. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

With Marianas Southern Airways launching its new flight schedule—a twice-daily flight from Rota to Guam—the municipality of Rota is in the works of promoting the island as a getaway spot for the people of Guam.

Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), among the first batch of passengers to fly Marianas Southern Airways’ flight from Guam to Rota last Friday, stated that, with the additional number of daily flights, the Rota municipality is looking into promoting the island as a getaway in the Guam community.

“We are very grateful to Marianas Southern Airways for starting weekday direct flights between Rota and Guam and for being one of our partners in rebuilding our economy on Rota. Our municipality leaders are looking at robustly promoting Rota on Guam, including the military [population],” he said.

Aside from helping boost Rota’s economy through tourism, the addition of daily weekday flights will also benefit the Rota community as it provides the people of Rota another option to travel to Guam, Manglona added.

“Of course, our residents on Rota are deeply appreciative of the increased frequency in flights,” Manglona said.

Sen. Donald Manglona (Ind-Rota) echoed Manglona, stating that the increase in the number of flights doesn’t only connect the islands of Rota and Guam, but also opens economic opportunities for the Rota community.

“The additional flights offered by Marianas Southern Airways is welcoming news and something we, the people of Rota, are grateful for. The additional flights not only connect our people with their family and friends, but it opens our doors to economic opportunities,” he said.

Sen. Donald Manglona added that MSA’s new schedule further strengthens the bond between Rota and its airline partners.

“I would like to thank the management and staff of MSA for listening to our people by offering additional services to Guam. This is a step to building a stronger relationship with our business partners and we wish them great successes as they continue to offer and provide their services in connecting our Marianas. I would also like to thank U.S. [Customs and Border Protection], [the Commonwealth Ports Authority], and Star Marianas Air for coming together and figuring out a solution that benefits all stakeholders,” the Rota senator added.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, Rota dignitaries and members of the Rota community joined Marianas Southern Airways officials and staff last Friday in launching the airline’s inaugural flight from Rota to Guam

MSA vice president William Giles said MSA ultimately hopes that this new addition of flights traveling from Rota to Guam will benefit the Rota community as well as boost tourism for Rota.

“With this new flight, this will allow people from Guam the opportunity to directly visit Rota so we hope this will be a boost in tourism for Rota as well,” he said.

Now that MSA has successfully connected all the islands in the Marianas through affordable, efficient air service, MSA is looking at expanding the number of flights it currently provides.

“We’re really hoping to add more flights to Tinian. We currently have two daily flights from Saipan to Tinian and we hope to add more. Then, once we have progressed, we hope to add daily flights from Guam to Tinian,” Giles said.