Asiana Resumes Flights to Saipan... Agreement Reached with Northern Mariana Government

Ralph DLG. Torres, Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (left), and Sun Wan-sung, Executive Director of Asiana Airlines, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the 'Flight Resumption Program' on the 1st.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Asiana Airlines announced on the 2nd that it will join hands with the Northern Mariana government, which includes Saipan, to revitalize tourism.

Ralph DLG. Torres, Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, signed the 'Flight Resumption Program' between Asiana Airlines and the Northern Mariana government the day before, discussing the reinspection of Saipan quarantine measures and tourism revitalization.

According to the program, Asiana Airlines will resume flights to Saipan once a week starting from the 24th. The schedule departs Incheon Airport at 9 a.m., arrives in Saipan at 2:30 p.m. local time, departs Saipan at 4 p.m., and arrives at Incheon Airport at 7:40 p.m.

The first resumed flight in July will use an A321 aircraft (174 seats), and from August, the latest model aircraft A321NEO (180 seats) will be operated. The airline plans to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and take flexible measures such as increasing flights as needed.

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres said, "Over the past year, we have thoroughly prepared quarantine measures, including vaccinating all tourism workers, for the safety of both peoples," and added, "I hope the 'Flight Resumption Program' with Asiana Airlines proceeds successfully and the Saipan route returns to normal."

Sun Wan-sung, Executive Director of Asiana Airlines, said, "We have made thorough preparations with travel agencies so that this cooperation can be the cornerstone for realizing the K-quarantine tour program."

Meanwhile, South Korea and the Northern Mariana Islands federal government have mutually agreed to implement a travel bubble (safe travel zone), allowing group travelers from Korea who have completed vaccination to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands without quarantine starting this month.

Currently, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the Northern Mariana Islands is only 183, and those who have completed the second dose of vaccination account for about 63% of the total population, maintaining the highest level of quarantine.