A Guam Business series for 2017 providing a birds-eye view of carriers serving Micronesia
Shinohara
United Airlines
Head executive: Oscar Munoz, CEO
Regional head: Samuel V. Shinohara, managing director of operations Asia/Pacific
Number of employees: 910 in Micronesia; 772 in Guam
Awards in 2016:
- 100% rating on Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality
- United MileagePlus loyalty program as Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
Routes and service launch dates in Micronesia:
- Guam-Saipan and Micronesia: 1968
- Guam-Tokyo (via Saipan): 1977
- Guam-Manila: 1982
- Guam-Nagoya: 1983
- Guam-Honolulu/U.S.: 1984
- Guam-Fukuoka: 1987
- Guam-Sendai: 1990
- Guam-Sapporo: 1990
- Guam-Hong Kong: 1991
- Guam-Osaka: 1994
- Guam-Shanghai: 2014
Cost tiers/classes: Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Global First, Polaris
Alliance: Star Alliance
Extra fees: $100 for extra baggage
In-flight amenities: Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, complimentary or available-for-purchase meals, in-flight WiFi for purchase, audio and movie entertainment, duty free shopping, blankets and pillows, Hemispheres in-flight magazine
On-time performance: 71.4% (November)
Claim to fame: United has served Micronesia since 1968 when it was Air Micronesia
Future opportunities/changes in regards to Micronesia services: “United will continue to invest in product and service enhancements. After the success of United’s retrofitted B737-800 aircraft, the airline is looking at more upgrades and further improvements to its fleet.”
Morimoto
Delta Air Lines
Head executive: Edward Bastian, CEO
Regional head: Masaru Morimoto, managing director – Japan and Micronesia
Number of employees: 80,000 worldwide; 8 in Micronesia (Guam, Saipan and Palau)
Awards in 2016:
- 35 Years of Service Award from Guam Chamber of Commerce
- Pristine Award from the Palau Visitors Authority
- Fortune’s Top 50 Most Admired Companies and Most Admired Airlines
- No. 2 on Fortune’s Best Companies for Diversity
- No. 1 in the Business Travel News annual airline survey
- Glassdoor Employee’s Choice Awards
Routes and service launch dates in Micronesia:
- Tokyo/Narita-Guam: Apr 30, 1981
- Tokyo/Narita-Saipan: June 1, 1989
- Tokyo/Narita-Palau: Dec. 22, 2010
Cost tiers/classes: Business, Delta Comfort, Main Cabin
Alliance: SkyTeam
Extra fees: $40 for extra luggage (more than two for business, more than one for main cabin)
In-flight amenities: Blanket, WiFi, toys and books for children, inflight magazine Sky
On-time performance: 91.4% (November)
Claim to fame: According to U.S. Department of Transportation’s monthly report, Delta ranked No. 1 from January to November in completion factor with 99.5%, missed bag ratio with 1.80 and on-time arrival with 74.7%. In terms of flights between Tokyo-Narita and Guam, Saipan and Palau, Delta’s completion factor was 99.6% and on-time arrival was 92.8% from January to Dec. 19.
Future opportunities/changes in regards to Micronesia services: “Micronesia continues to be a very attractive destination for Japanese family vacation. Recent developments in this area are encouraging. Delta would like to play a key role to serve this market.”
Nagata
Japan Airlines
Head executive: Yoshiharu Ueki, representative director and president
Regional head: Hirofumi Nagata, vice president and regional manager
Number of employees: 11,224 worldwide
Routes: Guam-Narita: 1970
Cost tiers/classes: First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy
Alliance: Oneworld
Extra fees: $100 for extra baggage
In-flight amenities: Skyward magazine, inflight shopping, JAL original aroma wet towels, in-flight entertainment including Sky Manga
On-time performance: 87% (November)
Asiana Airlines
Head executive: Soo Cheon Kim, president and CEO
Regional head: Jong Hong Lee, general manager – Saipan regional office
Number of employees: 10,112 worldwide, 11 in Saipan
Awards in 2016:
- No. 1 recommended brand in Korea Industry Aviation Division by Korea Most Admired Company
- World’s Best Economy Class, Best Economy Class Seat and Best Economy Class Catering by Skytrax
- Korean Standard Premium Brand Index and Korean Sustainability Index by Korea Standard Association
- No. 1 in Korean Customer Satisfaction Index Aviation Service Category by KMAC
- No. 1 in Korean Standard-Service Quality Index, Korean Standard-Contact Service Quality Index and Korea Good Company, Aviation Service Category by KSA
- No. 16 on the World Airline Award’s list of World’s Top 100 Airlines
Routes and service launch dates in Micronesia:
- Incheon-Saipan: May 27, 1992
- Busan-Saipan: Oct. 10, 1995
- Kansai Osaka-Saipan: Dec. 18, 2008
- Incheon-Palau Sept. 1, 2010
Cost tiers/classes: First Suite, First, Business Smartium, Business, Economy (only Business and Economy available for Saipan routes)
Alliance: Star Alliance
Extra fees: $100 for extra baggage (Saipan route)
In-flight amenities: Comforter sets and pajamas on some long-haul route upper classes, traveler’s kit with cosmetics and toiletries, noise-canceling headphones
On-time performance: 65.1% (November)
Claim to fame: Under the slogan “the one and only earth, as precious as our customers,” Asiana has always put the earth first. It became the first airline in the world accredited by ISO 14001 in 1996, actively involving all executives and employees in the company-wide environmental management practices. Asiana implemented “environmental friendly flight” as the highest-standard green operation and minimizes energy consumption in all operation procedures.
Future opportunities/changes in regards to Micronesia services: “Asiana Airlines has introduced electric vehicles for its aircraft maintenance around the airports to reduce GHG emissions and fuel expense. Moreover, to promote the green travel among passengers, Asiana produced public interest advertisements.”
