Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Air Papaya eyes role as CNMI carrier

Posted at 22:54 on 29 November, 2012 UTC

The owner of at least six hotels in Guam and the CNMI is to launch a new airline called which is hoped will become a CNMI carrier.

The planned carrier, Air Papaya, will be owned by JMSH LLC and is expected to be launced next year.

Company officials say initial flights will be to and from Saipan, Guam, and major cities in China and Japan.

It’s home-base will be on Saipan, and is expected to bring over 260,000 passengers to the tourism-based CNMI economy.

Officials say Air Papaya’s aircraft is being painted right now and the airline will eventually have three Airbus 300 series, which can carry 179 passengers each.