Marianas Southern Airlines takes flight as region's newest service provider

There's a new airline in town. Marianas Southern Airways has officially taken-off in the region, adding more options for residents needing to travel within the CNMI and Guam.

Company president Keith Stewart told KUAM News, "MSA is only going to be successful based on how the community goes and accepts us so we wanted to go and have a launch party." Marianas Southern Airways officially took off and landed its first flight in the CNMI Friday morning.  They plan to launch over 90 weekly flights.

Stan Little, chairman and CEO of Mokulele Airlines, Marianas Southern Airlines and Southern Airways, explained, "We've got brand new planes coming direct from the factory in Italy to Saipan. Those are going to be landing in the next few days."

He added, "We have an obligation to serve not just an obligation to make a profit for our shareholders. So we want to take the lessons we've learned over the years...and bring those to the CNMI. We know that there are a lot of people who need to travel more often than they are able to right now."

The fleet they run in Hawaii has been active for decades and now those operations in the Pacific span Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and Guam.  The airliner will compete with Star Marianas. 

CNMI governor Ralph Torres said, "We need another airline to service the CNMI, not just for our people but the opportunity for our private sector and most especially as well our tourism industry."

They say their goal is to not only provide daily, reliable, and consistent flights - but also flights within the islands that allow residents to connect to United Airlines trips to Asia and the states.