en.Wedoany.com Reported - Philippine Airlines (PAL) plans to resume Manila-Saipan flights in June, after Super Typhoon Sinlaku forced the carrier to postpone the originally scheduled launch. The Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) has set a target of June 20 to restore nighttime international flight operations at Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport, paving the way for PAL's two weekly flights to return on June 22, while also enabling other international airlines to resume services.

This development comes just three months after the Filipino community in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) celebrated PAL's return to the U.S. Pacific territory after years of absence. The typhoon struck Saipan in April, following community leaders and residents welcoming PAL's resumption of direct Manila-Saipan flights on March 29, viewing it as a boost to tourism, family travel, and business ties.

Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Esther Ada stated that the typhoon damaged key infrastructure at the airport, causing extensive water intrusion and electrical issues throughout the terminal, but recovery efforts have made significant progress. She noted that the airport set June 20 as the target date to allow nighttime operations, with Jeju Air and Philippine Airlines expressing interest in starting night flights from June 21. Airport officials pointed out that after power was restored on May 12, staff were able to begin repairing essential equipment such as the baggage handling system, which had been operating manually since the storm.

Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Chairman Bartley Jackson stated that the airport is largely ready to welcome international flights once the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes its final work. He revealed that Philippine Airlines plans to resume two weekly flights on June 22, which will be the first since the typhoon; South Korea's Jeju Air is scheduled to resume on June 21; Hong Kong Airlines is expected to return on July 2; and United Airlines' Narita route will resume on July 12. Jackson emphasized that the restoration of nighttime flights is crucial to revitalizing tourism in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, an industry that serves as the primary economic driver, especially after the typhoon's damage.

Before the typhoon, multiple community organizations had praised PAL's return. United Filipino Organization President Carlito Marquez stated that the flights would benefit Filipinos on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, and provide new avenues for tourism growth. Businessman Bong Malasarte described PAL's return as "a strong signal of renewed confidence in the CNMI's tourism and economy." Filipino community leader Irene Nepomuceno Holl noted that PAL would offer more convenient flights for residents to seek medical treatment or visit family in the Philippines. Mar Masilungan, a member of the CNMI Governor's Economic Advisory Council, believed that the direct Manila-Saipan route would reduce the need for transit through third countries, creating opportunities for workers and residents. The CNMI, located about 2,700 kilometers east of the Philippines, is a U.S. commonwealth with thousands of Filipino workers, forming one of the largest expatriate communities in the territory.

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