United Airlines has informed the Commonwealth Ports Authority that it will resume its CNMI-Guam flight service beginning May 2, according to a report in the Marianas Variety today.
On April 6, United Airlines suspended its CNMI flight service as requested by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres who asked for the suspension to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.
However, the spokesman for Governor Torres yesterday warned that arriving passengers would still be subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days at Pacific Island’s Club in Saipan.
CPA Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds on Wednesday told the paper that United informed the Port Authority that it will resume its CNMI flights to and from Guam beginning May 2, three times a week — Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
King-Hinds also said the standing directive from the CNMI government “has not changed with regard to discouraging travel in and out, and between the islands of the CNMI as a health precaution in light of the pandemic.”
Asked for comment, Governor Torres’ Press Secretary Kevin Bautista said:
“All passengers travelling from outside of the Commonwealth will continue to be subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days at PIC, the Covid-19 Task Force’s designated quarantine facility.”
“Under Governor Torres, the CNMI was the first jurisdiction in the Pacific to implement a mandatory 14-day quarantine of all inbound passengers. It is one of the reasons why we have been able to keep our curve flat, while continuing to be proactive in maintaining active surveillance, developing our local healthcare capacity, ramping up community-based testing, and pushing a strong public information campaign to protect the people of the Marianas.”
