Philippine Airlines saw an opportunity to return to the CNMI after identifying a gap on Saipan’s limited global air connectivity, PAL regional head for Japan, Korea and Oceania Bryan Sansolis said during a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office on Capitol Hill last Feb. 2.
“As we were reviewing our network, we saw an opportunity on Saipan,” Sansolis said. “We recognize that the linkage of Saipan to the other places in the world is kind of limited right now. So we saw that there's a gap on that part, and we saw PAL providing value to that gap.”
Sansolis said the Manila-Saipan route restores critical connectivity by allowing outbound CNMI travelers to connect through Manila to the Philippine flag carrier’s broader Asian and international network, while also opening a pathway for inbound tourism, including travelers from China who can transit Manila en route to Saipan.
“Given that our schedule is a red-eye flight, it actually connects to a lot of domestic Philippines and also most of our Asian flights,” Sansolis said, adding that PAL is also working with the Marianas Visitors Authority to attract Japanese and Chinese travelers. “We were already discussing bringing passengers from Shanghai.”
He also expressed hope that the long-sought CNMI-Guam visa waiver program for Filipino travelers will eventually be approved, saying fewer travel restrictions would help sustain the route.
“If this becomes visa-free, there’s also a great potential to be a destination where Filipinos can just fly to on a whim,” Sansolis said. “The less restriction there is, the velocity of travel is more.”
Blaine Roxas, PAL marketing specialist, said it’s also worth noting that PAL is returning to Saipan and opening new routes as it celebrates its 85th anniversary as Asia’s airline company.
“The most important thing is that we would like to pass on to more of our passengers, not only the network linkages that Bryabn had mentioned a while ago, but also the Filipino hospitality that is very famous for Philippine Airlines, not only for Philippine Airlines, but for Filipinos around the world,” she said.
Gov. David M. Apatang welcomed PAL’s return and alluded to the importance of direct access to the Philippines for medical referrals, noting that many CNMI residents already rely on the country for healthcare services.
“Most of our people, when we need something, the closest place that we go to is the Philippines,” Apatang said. “Even I, myself, I usually go to the Philippines for medical checkups.”
TanHoldings Corp. vice president of Business Development and Century Travel president Ivan Quichocho highlighted the added appeal of shopping, dining, and leisure travel in the Philippines, citing favorable exchange rates and lifestyle tourism, while TanHoldings president and CEO Jerry Tan said the route strengthens sports tourism and connectivity to Oceania through PAL’s Australia network.
“With Philippine Airlines’ network between the Philippines and Australia, that actually is quite exciting for us,” Tan said. “If it’s a direct flight, that’s a different story—three and a half hours, you’re here.”
Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Jamika Taijeron said the return of Philippine Airlines to Saipan followed months of coordination and discussions held at multiple regional aviation forums.
“This has been months in the making,” Taijeron said. “We met them first at Routes Asia and then in Perth in March, and then again in November in Hong Kong.”
Taijeron said MVA has been working closely with PAL and its head office and is committed to supporting the new Manila-Saipan service.
She said the route aligns with MVA’s strategy to attract a full-service carrier and expand global connectivity while diversifying the CNMI’s tourism markets.
Taijeron added that MVA has already committed resources to promote the Philippine market ahead of the route launch.
“Last week, our board passed some funding for the Philippine market,” she said. “We’re moving on that quickly because we need to make sure that this is successful and hits the road running.”
Commonwealth Ports Authority chair Bart Jackson said the return of a legacy carrier adds stature to the CNMI’s aviation profile.
“It’s prestigious for us to be able to welcome back Philippine Airlines,” Jackson said. “It offers our people of Saipan more accessibility to all kinds of routes worldwide.”
CPA executive director Esther Ada said the direct flight removes a long-standing travel hurdle, noting she has never visited the Philippines because of the inconvenience of transiting Guam.
“I think this is going to be a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to go directly to the Philippines,” Ada said.
Sansolis said the Manila-Saipan service will operate twice weekly starting March 29 using an Airbus A321 aircraft with around 180 seats, emphasizing that the route is intended as a long-term operation rather than a short-term trial.
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