CPA: CNMI flights unaffected by US nationwide ground stop

Flights to and from the CNMI remain unaffected by the nationwide ground stop imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. mainland, Commonwealth Ports Authority board chair Bart Jackson said Saturday morning.

Jackson told Marianas Press on Nov. 14 that airport operations in the Commonwealth remain normal despite the communications problems that prompted the FAA to temporarily halt flights across the U.S. mainland.

"The challenges that they're facing have not impacted the CNMI in any way," Jackson said.

He said the morning flight from Guam to Saipan had already departed and was expected to arrive at 9:15am.

Jackson said CPA executive director Esther Ada has been communicating with the FAA to determine whether the disruption could eventually affect the CNMI.

He said the possible impact on Guam, which also handles flights to Hawaii, remains uncertain.

"Business is as normal. Things are on time and safe," Jackson said, adding that passengers traveling from the CNMI to Asian destinations should not expect problems stemming from the mainland disruption.

According to the Associated Press, the FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop Friday afternoon, Nov. 13, following communications problems affecting regional air traffic control centers.

Federal officials said technicians were investigating the outage, which marked the first nationwide ground stop since January 2023.

Jackson emphasized that, as of Saturday morning, CPA had received no indication that the disruption was affecting CNMI airport operations.