Skymark Airlines (BC, Tokyo Haneda) is considering launching flights from Tokyo Haneda to Saipan in Winter 2018/19. The move follows Delta Air Lines's termination of flights between the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Tokyo Narita, the Saipan Tribune has reported.
"I met with Skymark Airlines executives a couple months ago to discuss the launch of direct flights from Japan to Saipan later this year. I am pleased to say that Skymark has begun evaluating the launch of direct flights, targeting a launch during the upcoming winter schedule. They have met with the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, and other government agencies who have all offered their full support to Skymark," the Governor of the CNMI, Ralph DLG Torres, said.
Delta terminated the Saipan-Narita route, a service it had plied for the last 29 years, on May 6, 2018, citing the route's poor economic viability. The service was Saipan's only link to Japan, a key market for tourists and, as such, the CNMI government is now working towards securing the restoration of a direct link.
If launched, the Skymark service would become its first international route. According to the ch-aviation capacity module, the Japanese carrier currently operates exclusively domestic routes mostly out of Tokyo Haneda, Kobe, Fukuoka, Okinawa Naha, and Sapporo Chitose.
Saipan currently sees international services mostly to China, as well as to Seoul Incheon and Busan in South Korea, Hong Kong International, and Guam International. The other active airport in the CNMI, Rota International, sees services only to Saipan and Guam, while Tinian currently has no scheduled flights.
