Press release - January 13, 2006
CNMI: Air Saipan Plans Maiden Flights In Spring
The Marianas Variety Online reports that the Australian investors of a new airline firm, Air Saipan, plan to launch their maiden flights between March and April.
Air Saipan seeks to provide charter flights between key tourism markets in the region and Saipan.
Craig Champion, Air Saipan’s vice president for international marketing and business development, said their two Boeing 757 jets can carry 200 passengers each and will be arriving on island next month.
Champion said with the $3 million planes certain to arrive, they will now focus on inaugural flights to Saipan from either Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan.
“The planes will arrive in February. We’re looking at the 15th, give or take two or three days, and then from there we’re going to work on our destinations. Which ones first? We’re looking at Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, later we’ll look at Australia, also China,” said Champion who is from Brisbane, Australia.
“We’ll be flying in March or April as a charter airline,” he added.
The airline executive said they will first market their charter flights through selling agents in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong since the traveling public in those areas are already familiar with Saipan.
SYDNEY MARKET
Air Saipan is also planning to sell tour packages in Sydney which is home to about 3 million people.
Although there are beaches in Sydney, Champion said Australians prefer to travel overseas for their vacation and Bali, Indonesia, which used to be their favorite is no longer perceived as a safe destination.
Champion said Air Saipan is optimistic that Australians can be enticed to travel to the island which he said is similar to Bali.
“Australians like to travel overseas. Bali, because of the bombings and all the terrorism activities, (is not very attractive to them anymore). They want to go to a safe place. Saipan is very safe,” he said.
He admitted that Saipan is not yet popular among Australians but they are preparing a marketing strategy to package the island as a good destination to visit.
“Saipan is not yet in Australia. We haven’t really done much marketing, but we will when we actually start to take off. We have a marketing plan for Australia later on this year,” he said.
“I think so,” said Champion when asked if Australians would want to travel to Saipan. “I mean the diving is good. It’s a safe island. People are very friendly; you’ve got duty-free shopping. It’s the same as Bali. It may be a little bit farther but we can compete with the prices, the hotels, the airline package, it’s going to be fine. And they are going to come here for the holidays.”
OPTIMISTIC
Champion said they are aware that the travel industry remains volatile and that medium scale airlines, like Palau Micronesia Air, have suspended operations due to intense competition in the aviation industry and the high cost of jet fuel.
He said risks are part of the business and Air Saipan is willing to face them.
“I think all business people are scared, but it’s a risk that we’re willing to take. It will succeed. Saipan has a lot to offer. We can bring people in. It’s a win-win situation for everybody. With the support of the islands and the new administration,” he said.
“We’re not in the business to withdraw later. We’re in the business to bring people here,” he added.
Palau Micronesia Air, a joint venture between private investors, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, ceased its charter flight service between Palau, Guam and the Philippines after less than a year of operations due to economic reasons.
The airline said it will revive its operations. Japan Airlines withdrew from the Saipan route in October. The airline accounted for nearly 50 percent or more than 180,000 Japanese tourists coming to the the CNMI every year.
