The Manila Times

PAL flights to Saipan to resume in June

SAIPAN, Northern Marianas—Philippine Airlines is expected to resume its Manila-Saipan service in June after Super Typhoon Sinlaku temporarily halted the carrier's long-awaited return to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Commonwealth Ports Authority said nighttime international operations at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport are targeted to resume on June 20, paving the way for PAL's twice-weekly flights to return on June 22, alongside other international carriers. This development comes barely three months after Filipinos in the CNMI celebrated PAL's return to the US Pacific territory following years of absence. Before Sinlaku struck the islands in April, community leaders and residents had welcomed PAL's March 29 relaunch of direct Manila-Saipan flights, seeing it as a boost to tourism, family travel and business ties between the Philippines and the CNMI. CPA Executive Director Esther Ada said airport recovery efforts have progressed significantly since the typhoon damaged critical infrastructure, causing extensive water intrusion and electrical problems throughout the terminal. "We actually set a target date of June 20 to allow for nighttime operations," Ada said. "Jeju and Philippine Airlines have shared with us that they want to start their night flights June 21st." Airport officials said power restoration on May 12 allowed crews to begin repairing baggage-handling systems and other essential equipment that had been manually operated following the storm. CPA board chairman Bartley Jackson said the airport is largely ready for international traffic once final work by the US Federal Aviation Administration is completed. Jackson said Philippine Airlines is scheduled to resume its twice-weekly service with its first flight since Sinlaku touching down on June 22, while South Korea's Jeju Air plans to restart flights on June 21. Hong Kong Airlines is expected back on July 2 and United Airlines' Narita route on July 12. "The airport has done a great job of recovering itself, of getting back in business," Jackson said. "Right now, the airport is really ready to go." Jackson said the return of nighttime flights is crucial to reviving tourism, the CNMI's primary economic driver, after the devastation caused by Sinlaku. Prior to the typhoon, members of the Filipino community had hailed PAL's return as a milestone for the islands. United Filipino Organization President Carlito Marquez said the flights would benefit Filipinos living across Saipan, Tinian and Rota while providing another avenue for tourism growth. Businessman Bong Malasarte described PAL's comeback as "a strong sign of renewed confidence in CNMI tourism and the economy." Filipino community leader Irene Nepomuceno Holl said the airline's return would provide residents with a more convenient option for travel to the Philippines, particularly for medical needs and family visits. Mar Masilungan, a member of the CNMI Governor's Council of Economic Advisers, said direct Manila-Saipan flights would create opportunities for workers and residents while reducing the need to transit through third countries. The CNMI, a US commonwealth located about 2,700 kilometers east of the Philippines, is home to thousands of Filipino workers who make up one of the territory's largest expatriate communities.