In a March 18 release, the Marianas Visitors Authority and Commonwealth Ports Authority said the agencies met in February with 15 airlines at aviation route development forum, the 2024 Routes Asia Show to discuss the potential of new air service to The Marianas. The NMI also had a booth at the event.
The aviation industry forum was held Feb. 27 to 29 in Langkawi, Malaysia and attended by 334 organizations, including the A. B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam and the Guam Visitors Bureau.
The team from the Northern Mariana Islands met with Starlux Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines, Japan Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Hong Kong Express, Jetstar Group, China Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways Limited, Juneyao Air, Scoot, Virgin Australia Airlines, and AirAsia Group.
Discussions continue with interested airlines, according to the release.
The NMI group attendees were Joe C. Ayuyu, owner/operator and president of McDonald's of Guam and Saipan and chairman of the CPA board; Ivan Quichocho, vice president of Tan Holdings and director of MVA; Christopher A. Concepcion, managing director of MVA; Leo Tuela, managing director of CPA; and Thomas Kim, marketing manager of MVA.
In other NMI marketing news, MVA attended the MWR Quality of Life Expo on Feb. 24 at the University of Guam Calvo Field House, aimed at the U.S. military market, which featured more than 70 exhibitors.
In a plus for Saipan, the Shisedo cosmetics company is holding its Professional Summer Academy on the island. About 80 people arrived in Saipan March 18 from South Korea on Jeju Air, with the trip organized by Thecome Tour under MVA’s MICE program. The group will be in Saipan until March 21, staying at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. mbj