Skymark Airlines Inc. donated 3 million Japanese yen or about $30,000, while Access, the Marianas Visitors Authority\u2019s representative office in Japan, donated 1 million Japanese yen or about $10,000 to the MVA for the CNMI\u2019s recovery efforts from Super Typhoon Yutu\u2019s devastation. <\/p>\n
The Skymark team, led by its executive officer Narutoshi Terada, and Access representatives handed the donations to MVA board members and its officials and staff at the MVA general membership meeting at Fiesta Resort & Spa\u2019s Hibiscus Hall last Friday.<\/p>\n
The CNMI government and Skymark recently signed a co-promotional agreement that would open direct flights between Japan and Saipan. <\/p>\n
Skymark is Japan\u2019s third largest carrier and the first low-cost carrier in Japan. It is also the only carrier that offers domestic flights based at Haneda International Airport in Ota, Tokyo.<\/p>\n
Terada later said in an interview their company is very pleased with their \u201cmission\u201d in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled, excited but also a little bit nervous,\u201d said Terada, through Skymark\u2019s assistant general manager John Furuya, who acted as interpreter.<\/p>\n
Terada said that, by working with the CNMI, they feel that they can help the Commonwealth\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
Terada believes Saipan will be an attractive place for Japanese tourists where they can enjoy and relax with their family. <\/p>\n
Terada said Saipan is good for Japanese tourists, especially during long weekends because it is only a few hours of travel away, with many activities to enjoy and relax such as water sports and even casino gambling.<\/p>\n
Terada said they will be doing charter flights first, but will later be offering regular daily operations.<\/p>\n
MVA managing director Christopher Concepcion said they are very happy that the Skymark team joined MVA\u2019s general membership meeting, that the audience at the meeting and the people of the CNMI are excited to see the Japanese market return.<\/p>\n
Concepcion said they are also very grateful for Skymark\u2019s donation. He said Skymark\u2019s as well as Access\u2019 donation will be given to Karidat Social Services, which will fill the gaps that other big organizations can\u2019t fill.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we\u2019re working with Karidat right now\u2026to be able to give this donation to them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said they\u2019re appreciative of these companies\u2019 efforts to help the CNMI. \u201cYou can see that they\u2026are willing to help the CNMI,\u201d said Concepcion.<\/p>\n
During the Skymark\u2019s presentation about their company, assistant general manager John Furuya said they just celebrated their company\u2019s 20th anniversary. <\/p>\n
He said they are the fifth largest airline in Japan and currently operates 27 planes and is getting two more in 2019. \u201cAlthough we are operating just domestic routes, we have 154 flights a day,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Furuya said they have 92.6 percent on-time departure. \u201cThis is the best in Japan,\u201d said Furuya, drawing applause from the audience at the meeting.<\/p>\n
He disclosed, among other things, that their flight cancellation rate is only 0.59 percent.<\/p>\n
He said they are operating 21 domestic flights, serving 11 cities in Japan.
\nFuruya said they are not only planning to operate scheduled flights to Saipan in fiscal year 2019, but also to Palau.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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