Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said she wants to work on opening more Japan flights, particularly flights to Hokkaido and back, which she brought up during Wednesday’s airport reception celebrating Japan Airlines’ 55 years of flying the Guam-Japan route.
Guam airport, tourism and other elected officials greeted arriving Japan Airlines passengers as part of the celebrations at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport.
Not only is Japan a primary market for Guam’s tourism industry, but Hokkaido is a known hub for Guam residents during the winter for vacation and skiing, the governor said.
“We know the demand is there, but the supply is very limited,” Leon Guerrero said at the reception for Japan Airlines. “I hope you go back to your corporation and encourage them to increase flights.”
Japan Airlines officials, along with passengers, arrived via JAL Flight 941 at 2:30 p.m. and departed via Flight 942 after 4 p.m., as the flight was slightly delayed by the ceremony.
There were no official talks between the governor, GIAA, or Japan Airlines before the ceremony about the governor’s proposal of additional flights.
With Japan Airlines executive officer for sales and marketing Kaori Nishiharaguchi present, Leon Guerrero wanted to seize the opportunity.
“I just dropped it [because] she is upper management, and hopefully, she takes it back and considers it,” Leon Guerrero said. “We used to have a frequent flight from Guam to Hokkaido, but they have terminated it. We need to have more flights from Japan in order for us to be able to continue on our tourism industry.”
Discussions to be had, if any, will be held through the airport, which is in continuous discussion with all airline partners.
‘Plant the seed’
John Quinata, GIAA executive manager, supposed a seasonal offering could be negotiated.
“A lot of folks from Guam go to Japan for the wintertime for skiing and for the ice show, so maybe a seasonal flight from Guam to Hokkaido might work, and I think that’s a good idea,” Quinata said. “We’re going to see what we can do to plant the seed and make it come true.”
Planting the seed, however, may not be so easy.
“JAL has a strategy at the moment to focus on Narita, Haneda, Chubu, and Osaka,” Nishiharaguchi said. “If we want to expand local flights, they have to take into consideration the lack of aircraft. If there is a clear demand from Guam, then they could possibly land a charter flight from Guam to Hokkaido.”
The timeline of this potential offering or its negotiations cannot be determined.
Japan Airlines admitted to an aircraft and pilot shortage and hopes to sort out those issues before discussing the matter of new flights properly.
55-year milestone
Guam airport initially wanted to host a ceremony for Japan Airlines’ 50th anniversary of service, but plans were derailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the administration decided to celebrate the 55th instead.
The Guam Visitors Bureau held the first ceremony in Japan before the outbound flight, led by its general manager, Regine Biscoe Lee.
Local Japan Airlines staff will also host a similar event at the Village of Donki with activities for kids in the food court area.
Elfrieda Koshiba, Guam airport program coordinator, said this ceremony is “how we commemorate them, do a Håfa Adai welcome, a water salute, and send off.”
She added that JAL is the longest-servicing partner with GIAA after United Airlines.
Several representatives from the tourism industry offered words of gratitude during the ceremony, including the governor, GIAA’s Quinata, and Japan Airlines’ regional manager on Guam, Hideo Owano.
Biscoe Lee said Japan Airlines has played a vital role “in connecting our island” and its visits have “brought life to our culture, strength to our community, and warmth to our bonds between our people.”
“If you look ahead, we are confident that the ties between Guam and Japan will continue to grow stronger,” Biscoe Lee said.
‘Place of warmth’
Japan Airlines’ partnership with GIAA began in 1970 and expanded in 2013 when JAL opened its cadet training center, which has graduated many pilots, at the Guam airport.
Rolenda Faasuamalie, GIAA public information officer, reiterated how Japan is one of the biggest market populations of Guam’s tourism industry. Japan used to be Guam’s primary market before Korea entered the region with low-cost carriers and increased travel demand.
Leon Guerrero added that part of Guam’s economic growth is attributed to its partnership with Japan Airlines.
“The biggest influence in Guam’s growth over the last 50 years is tourism, and we cannot have tourism if we don’t have airlines to bring people here to experience culture, food, warmness, generosity as a people,” Leon Guerrero said. “We continue to make improvements for the benefit of our tourists, so they can have the best experience in [Guam], and we are focusing on [showcasing] the culture of the people.”
In his closing speech, Owano said Guam is “more than just a destination.”
“This island, blessed with beautiful nature and warm people, has remained a place of warmth, history, and support for 55 years,” Owano said. “We remain committed to providing safe, reliable, and comfortable travel.”
AloJapan.com