Sunday, June 15, 2008

Landing rites

The already-troubled Commonwealth Ports Authority will lose $106,000 in revenue when Continental Airlines stops its direct Manila flights, according to the Saipan Tribune.

Here we go: higher costs for businesses, huge inconveniences for contract workers and the few remaining NCLEX takers. Most importantly, medical referrals will be in trouble. Our politicians will be inconvenienced going to 'the Farm' and even our 'fly-by-night' educational industry can expect a hit.

The word on the street is that the Saipan Continental office will close.

Our ace in the hole may be Northwest adding flights in July. Flights to Honolulu and Las Vegas should become increasingly expensive, giving us a competitive advantage. Okinawa may trump that card,of course: in the past that was the choice of many Japanese travelers in similar circumstances.

3 comments:

bigsoxfan said...

The farm? Missed that one, although I'v heard plenty of Guam airport horror stories. A few flights through there and the workers will understand the dude who is posting "Federalization, you asked for it you got it" Corruption isn't that much of a good thing, but at least you can buy your way out. Not so with the HS dudes. Crap, I have a blue passport and I don't enjoy points of entry such as Guam. Give me the deck of a ship any day. Sorry, Jimmy.

KAP said...

The Farm is a local code for the Philippines, usually Manila.

No name to protect the guilty, but I suppose it's politically incorrect to lean over a tourist who's cut the 'U.S. Only' line and hiss Hiroshima.

Why does Homeland Security hate shoelace manufacturers?

Bruce A. Bateman said...

Blow 'em outta here and open us up to open skies.

Air China? Philippine Air? Why not? If we can show 'em a profitable run they will come. Royal Brunei?....well, maybe not. We are a bit off the beaten path for them.