An airline has been found that is willing to launch regular direct flights to the Northern Marianas from Japan, the CNMI government says.
This comes as Delta Air Lines made its final Marianas flight yesterday.
CNMI Governor Ralph Torres said he recently met with Japan's Skymark Airlines to discuss the launch of direct flights from Japan to Saipan during the upcoming winter schedule.
Skymark Airlines Boeing 737-800 Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Skymark Airlines is Japan's third largest carrier headquartered at Haneda Airport in Tokyo and the country's largest independent low cost carrier.
It had already met with the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Commonwealth Ports Authority and other government agencies that all offered their full support to the carrier, Mr Torres said.
A formal announcement would be made soon when Skymark Airlines' evaluation process was complete and the company made an official decision, the governor said.
After flying the Japan to CNMI route for the last 29 years, Delta Air Lines suspended flights on 6 May due to low passenger numbers.
