Southern Airways Express (9X, Memphis International) has entered into a joint venture with Saipan’s MP Enterprises to establish an as-yet-unnamed commuter airline between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The startup will debut in July 2022. The name, schedules, and fares will be announced in the coming weeks once the trade name has been approved by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), according to a joint statement.

The airline will operate new, nine-seater, twin-engine Tecnam P2012s from Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM. “We will launch service with multiple aircraft based [on] Saipan and [in] Guam, and we are planning for a total of seven aircraft over the next three years to meet the growing demand,” said MP Enterprises President Keith Stewart. He said that the initial schedule would include more than 90 weekly flights serving Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam International.

As reported, Southern Airways Express has ordered two Tecnam P2012s with options for a further four within the next 12-18 months. The first aircraft is expected in early June 2022, followed by the second in early July.

Southern Airways Express will act as the air service operator focusing on safety, flight and ground operations, ticketing, and maintenance. MP Enterprises will contribute market knowledge, media, governmental relations, route development, and community outreach to the joint company.

“Importantly, as the schedule expands, the airline will offer same-day connectivity to Saipan with United Airlines’ Honolulu-Guam International flight, avoiding an unnecessary overnight stay in Guam and, through Southern Airways’ interline agreement with United Airlines, providing the ability to make a seamless reservation from Tinian, Rota International, or Saipan to anywhere in the United Airlines network,” said Stewart.

Southern Airways Express Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stan Little said: “Expanding our footprint to include the CNMI and Guam further cements Southern’s place among the world’s leading airlines.” “Southern is very excited to partner with MP Enterprises. With our more than 240 peak-day departures across six time zones, we have worked very hard to establish ourselves as a respected presence in the airline community.“

Stewart said the new air service plan began two years ago when MP Enterprises sought ways to reinvigorate the CNMI economy. The team looked to identify industries that would enable the CNMI to become sustainable. “What we quickly discovered was that without steady, affordable, and guaranteed air transportation, local businesses cannot grow and prosper,” he said.

“The goal was to also meet the needs of interisland travel following a recommendation from [CNMI] Governor [Ralph] Torres that airlines explore the possibility of interisland solutions that would help lower the cost of flights between Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam. Since COVID delayed the development of an international airline, MP Enterprises shifted its focus to recruiting a partner for inter-island service.”