SAIPAN — Visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 14,828 in January, down 16% from 17,744 in January last year, as the destination continues to face long-term reductions in air seat capacity, the Marianas Visitors Authority reported.
MVA said the Marianas has seen air seat capacity drop from about 760,000 seats in fiscal year 2018 to 250,000 seats in fiscal year 2025, a 67% overall decline. The agency said that includes a 60% loss of air seats from South Korea, the destination’s top source market, citing airline strategic decisions, currency disadvantages, and strong competition from other destinations.
MVA also said air seats remain below pre-pandemic levels following the complete loss of flights from mainland China under geopolitical changes involving the United States.
South Korea remained the Marianas’ top visitor source market with 10,367 arrivals in January, down 13% from the same month last year. MVA said the Marianas received 77 flights from Korea in January, compared to 98 flights in January last year.
The agency said Korea flight operations remain unstable, with Jeju Air and T’way Air frequently suspending or reducing flights over the last year and a half. Seasonal charter service is helping support the market during the winter season, with Air Busan operating twice-weekly charter flights from Busan to Saipan and T’way Air operating twice-weekly charters from Seoul Incheon to Saipan through Feb. 28.
Visitor arrivals from Japan totaled 945 in January, compared to 1,757 in January last year, a 46% decline. MVA said the comparison was affected by a large number of Japanese citizens who arrived aboard a cruise liner in January last year.
Outside of that cruise-related comparison, MVA said the Japan market has posted five consecutive months of growth. United Airlines currently operates direct Tokyo Narita-Saipan flights three times weekly.
Arrivals from China reached 1,508 in January, compared to 1,962 a year earlier, a 23% decline. MVA attributed the decrease to Lunar New Year holiday travel starting in January last year, while the holiday period falls in February this year.
MVA said load factors on Hong Kong Airlines’ twice-weekly direct Hong Kong-Saipan flights remain healthy and said the market is expected to grow if the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP, continues without further interruption.
MVA said Hong Kong Airlines is expected to double its flight service in May. The agency also noted that before the COVID-19 pandemic, China accounted for about 44% of visitors to the Marianas, with direct flights from multiple mainland cities, and said many stakeholders view EVS-TAP stability as essential to a full market recovery.
Other January arrivals included 676 visitors from Guam, 1,006 from the United States, and 326 from other markets combined.
MVA also said Philippine Airlines will begin twice-weekly direct Manila-Saipan flights on March 29.
