Star Marianas Air (S2, Tinian) has demanded transparency regarding the planned establishment of Marianas Southern Airways (Saipan) - the commuter airline joint venture between Southern Airways Express (9X, Memphis International) and Saipan's Marianas Pacific Express (MPE) scheduled for launch in late July.

The Saipan Tribune reports that the airline has requested under the CNMI's Open Government Act that the Commonwealth Port Authority (CPA) disclose its conversations with the two parties. The port authority manages and operates all the airports and seaports throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

"Pursuant to 1 CMC $9917 (a) of the Commonwealth Open Government Act, Star Marianas Air, Inc. requests that the following be made available for inspection and possible copying: All documents and communications of any kind by and between the Commonwealth Ports Authority, MP Enterprises, and Southern Airways Express," SMA stated in its request.

In response, CPA Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds told the newspaper the authority was focused on opening the CNMI market for more airline competition. "What I'm far more interested in is supporting a policy that creates an opportunity for new entries into the market for interisland passengers so that the communities of Tinian and Rota International will never again be held hostage by any recalcitrant service provider," she said.

SMA also has requested disclosure of all documents and communications by and between the CPA and consultants Ricondo & Associates, any other party, other government agencies, and the Office of the Governor concerning or relating to intra-island travel in the CNMI, inter-island travel between the CNMI and Guam, and the CPA's Airline Incentive Programme that incentivises inter-island air transport in the CNMI.

On inquiry, Star Marianas Air President Shaun Christian declined to comment: "We don’t have an official comment at this time but will be sure to let you know if that changes".

The new joint venture airline between Southern Airways Express and MPE is set to debut in July 2022. "The start date will be in late July, but we will not be announcing the specific day until the first plane is en-route over the ocean, expected next week," Southern Airways Express President and Chief Executive Officer Stan Little informed ch-aviation.

On April 13, Southern Airways Express filed a request with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for the registration of the trade name “Marianas Southern Airways”. Schedules and fares will be announced in the coming weeks after the DOT has approved the venture's naming, the parties announced last month. The airline will operate new, nine-seater, twin-engine Tecnam P2012s from Costruzioni Aeronautiche TECNAM. It will be based on Saipan and Guam.

The initial weekly schedule from Saipan will be as follows:

  • 19 weekly rotations to Tinian;
  • 2x daily flights to Rota; and
  • 2x daily flights to Guam International.

The fleet plan foresees seven aircraft to meet the growing demand over the next three years.