{"id":313327,"date":"2019-12-04T06:06:35","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=313327"},"modified":"2019-12-04T06:06:35","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T20:06:35","slug":"skymark-starts-tokyo-saipan-daily-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/skymark-starts-tokyo-saipan-daily-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Skymark starts Tokyo-Saipan daily flights"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Skymark Airlines president Masahiko Ichie, third and fourth from right, respectively, led the ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 29, 2019, at Tokyo-Narita International Airport in Japan to mark the launch of regular, direct daily flights to the Marianas. From left are a Skymark cabin attendant; Narita Airport Authority Corp. president and CEO Asahiko Tamura; Chiba Prefecture Policy and Planning Department deputy executive director Kotaro Nakamura; Ichie; Torres; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism administrator Yasuo Ishii; and Skymark pilot. (MVA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Japanese carrier Skymark Airlines Inc. launched direct daily flights from Tokyo to the Marianas on Nov. 29, 2019, marking what is expected to be a revival of Japanese tourism to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. <\/p>\n

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and other officials from the Marianas joined Skymark Airlines president Masahiko Ichie at a flight launch ceremony at Narita International Airport before taking the three-and-a-half-hour flight to the Francisco C. Ada\/Saipan International Airport, where passengers were greeted by an entourage led by Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios. Miss Marianas 2019 Shannon Sasamoto and island children also presented shell leis and other gifts to arriving passengers. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the day we have been looking forward to for many years,\u201d said Torres. \u201cWith the arrival of Skymark\u2019s daily direct flights, the Marianas is ready to welcome back our Japanese visitors to our beautiful islands. \u2026This is truly a great day in our Commonwealth\u2019s history.\u201d <\/p>\n

The flights are the only direct service between the Marianas and its once dominant source market for tourists. The flight arrival was followed by a press conference at the airport, where Torres expressed his thanks to the airline for choosing the Marianas as its first international destination. A reception was held that evening at Hyatt Regency Saipan. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Marianas Visitors Authority is committed to supporting the revival of the Japan tourism market with marketing and promotions support,\u201d said MVA managing director Priscilla M. Iakopo. \u201cIt remains our objective to have a diversification of tourism source markets to help ensure the stability of our Marianas tourism economy. The return of Japan is a much-needed part of that diversification, and we look forward to welcoming more Japanese visitors to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.\u201d <\/p>\n

The flights depart Tokyo daily at 10:15am, arriving at the Francisco C. Ada\/Saipan International Airport at 3pm. In addition to its regular three-tiered fare types, Skymark has introduced a \u201cSaipan Special\u201d to mark the launch of the new route. The special is for travel through March 28, 2020, and offers one-way travel originating on Saipan starting at $38 (fuel surcharge and tax additional). (MVA)<\/p>\n