Star Marianas Air (S2, Tinian) has suspended its charter flights to Guam International after Guamian authorities reclassified the airline's passenger escort service to a groundhandling operation.

“We did however suspend all passenger charters into Guam as of last week due to issues Guam International Airport Authority (GIAA) created for the company we were using to escort our passengers from our aircraft into Guam Customs in the international terminal,” Star Marianas Air Inc. president Shaun Christian told the Mariana's Variety newspaper.

In light of the reclassification, the firm handling Star Marianas' escort services, the Unlimited Services Group (USG), has suspended assistance to the carrier 'until a full IATA standard groundhandling agreement is in effect.'

Christian says the reclassification will double his airline's charges as a formal groundhandling contract would warrant a minimum of four staff dealing with each 8-passenger Star Marianas aircraft including a wing walker, a marshal, as well as wheel chocks and passenger escort services.

As such, Christian says his airline will only resume flights once the GCAA provides it a self-handling facility as well as access to aircraft for airline employees.

A regional airline, Star Marianas provides scheduled and ad-hoc charter flights between the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota International using a fleet of Piper (single piston) Cherokee and Piper (twin piston) Navajo Chieftains.