with Polynesia
p. 69 · Read in the full issue
Micronesia now linked by air with Polynesia
Air Micronesia, the US Trust Territory’s internal carrier and external carrier to Guam,
Okinawa (Japan) and Hawaii,
made its inaugural flight to Nauru on October 23. It’s now
expected to begin regular
weekly flights to Nauru from December 2.
The first flight, with a Boeing jet 727, took about 45 minutes from Majuro, Marshalls, and carried 32 passengers (mostly US Government and airline officials). Four Congress of Micronesia members were also aboard. It stayed at Nauru an hour before returning to Majuro.
It’s understood the airline’s regular Nauru calls will be optional and diversional stops off the airline’s twice weekly Hawaii to Okinawa runs, via Johnston Island, Majuro, Kwajalein, Truk, Guam and Saipan.
At Majuro, the jet will offload passengers who do not wish to fly to Nauru and then go on to Nauru where, it is hoped, travellers will have time for lunch and a tour around the island.
The Majuro-Nauru flight, although a tiny distance hop in the Pacific, is highly significant. For the first time, it links by air Polynesia directly with Micronesia. Travellers to Fiji, the Samoas or Tonga can now fly on to Micronesia without having to back track to Hawaii or go further afield to Australia.
The new flight is also a victory for Air Micronesia and a loss for Fiji Airways, which has for nearly two years pressed for a more northern call after its terminating point at Nauru. • Continental Airlines, a major shareholder in Air Micronesia which is currently operating its services out of Hawaii to the US Trust Ter ritory at a SUSU million annual loss, has recently been granted ad ditional non-stipulated services out of Guam by the US Government. Also, Japan Airlines, looking for a reason ably close holiday destination for Japanese tourists, is interested in flying to Micronesia.