Hong Kong Airlines has launched services to Saipan. The inaugural flight, operated by an A330 aircraft, carried 292 passengers and crew. The flight was piloted by Jeff Sun, chairman of Hong Kong Airlines and a veteran captain.
During the inaugural ceremony, Sun stated, “We are thrilled to bring back this beautiful holiday destination to our travellers. Hong Kong Airlines is currently the only carrier in the Greater Bay Area providing this exclusive route. Since its initial launch in 2016, our Saipan service has been very popular with travellers, not only due to the island’s natural allure but also because of Saipan’s visa-free policy, which facilitates easy travel. We are also exploring the opportunity to add frequency to our current twice-weekly flight service.”
Sun also said, “Since our restructuring was completed last April, we have regained a healthy operating track over the last year and reconnected with the world by gradually resuming routes and opening new destinations. We have been actively expanding our fleet and recruiting locally and globally to meet the demands of our business recovery and growth. Currently, our route network covers close to 30 destinations, and the average passenger load factor has returned to 85%.”
The airline will continue to explore new destinations to provide a more diverse range of travel options and support Hong Kong’s position as a major international aviation hub, making it a preferred departure and transit point.
David Apatang, Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) expressed his warm welcome at the ceremony. “This inaugural flight is a welcome visit to our pleasant and relaxing islands. With much thanks and excitement, Governor Palacios, the People of the CNMI, and I again express our greetings to everyone to the beautiful and friendly Northern Mariana Islands.”
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Matt Driskill at matt.driskill@asianaviation.com
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Head of Sales Kay Rolland at kay.rolland@asianaviation.com
