Continental Micronesia

Continental Micronesia flights used the regular Continental "CO" code on ticketing systems and for frequent-flyer benefit accounting, but used its ICAO code "CMI" and callsign "Air Mike" with air traffic control authorities. In airport terminals, Continental Micronesia flights were listed separately (from Continental) with its IATA code "CS". During the final decade, three airports had both "Air Mike" and mainline Continental present: Hong Kong, Tokyo and Honolulu.

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2009}}

File:TTPI UN Mission 1978.jpg Visiting Mission, Majuro, 1978. Sign reads "Please release us from the bondage of your trusteeship agreement." An Air Mike Boeing 727 is in the background.]]

The airline was established by Continental and other regional shareholders in the former U.S. Trust Territory and started operations on May 16, 1968, as Air Micronesia,"[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10778t.pdf GAO-10-778T Issues Raised by the Proposed Merger of United and Continental Airlines]." Government Accountability Office. Page 4. Retrieved on October 7, 2010. hence the nickname and callsign "Air Mike". Service was started with a Boeing 727-100 jetliner, number 475, which was nicknamed "Ju-Ju," and a Douglas DC-6B propliner. It also operated two Grumman SA-16/ HU-16 Albatross amphibians to fly from Chuuk (Truk) to Pohnpei (Ponape), until an airfield could be built that could accommodate the 727. The 727's underside was coated with teflon, due to it having to operate on coral runways. Additionally, the plane had to carry spare parts and a mechanic, as well as open-water survival gear and (beginning in 1975) onboard doppler radar, then a rarity.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} The airline also operated Boeing 727-100 Combi aircraft models which were capable of transporting freight pallets on the main deck of the jetliner just aft of the cockpit in addition to passengers seated in the rear coach compartment.http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1983 Worldwide Edition, Official Airline Guide (OAG), Honolulu flight schedules for Continental Micronesia By 1983, Continental Micronesia was operating all-passenger Boeing 727-100 and 727-200 aircraft in addition to mixed passenger/freight 727-100 Combi aircraft from its Guam hub.http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1983 Worldwide Edition, Official Airline Guide (OAG), Guam flight schedules for Continental Micronesia

William H. Stewart of the Saipan Tribune stated that the airline's foundation "in particular" "was probably the single most important factor in the future development of what were once remote and isolated islands in the Pacific." Stewart added that the jets "distorted the traveler's impression of time and distance and brought the islands closer to major market areas in Asia."Stewart, William H. "[http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=3&newsID=47296 The NMI's recent economic history] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323152135/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=3&newsID=47296 |date=March 23, 2012 }}." Saipan Tribune. Wednesday May 18, 2005. Retrieved on October 13, 2010. The airline had a virtual monopoly in the Micronesia region.{{cite news | last=Vergara | first=Jaime R. | url=http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/b0da9102-1dfb-11e4-aedf-250bc8c9958e/ | title=Celebrating the de-inauguration of CO 895 | work=Saipan Tribune | date=July 21, 2008}} In the 1970s, each district that the airline flew to had an entirely Micronesian employee base, with the exception of Saipan, which housed the airline's headquarters.International Organization and Conference Series, Issues 107-111. United States Department of State. Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1972. [https://books.google.com/books?id=KFQhAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Air+Micronesia%22+headquarters+Saipan 85]. Retrieved from Google Books on October 14, 2010. "In each district, except Air Micronesia's headquarters at Saipan, all Air Micronesia employees are Micronesian." William H. Stewart of the Saipan Tribune said the airline "was the only travel link many had with the world beyond the horizon."Stewart, William H. "[http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=98875&cat=3 A different time and place] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104133158/http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=98875&cat=3 |date=2013-11-04 }}." Saipan Tribune. Monday April 19, 2010. Retrieved on October 14, 2010.

In the early 1980s, the airline started service from Guam to Japan. As Continental's share and roles in Air Mike changed, the airline's name became "Continental Air Micronesia."{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Eventually, Continental owned 100% of Air Mike, which at one point provided the only scheduled service directly between Guam and any point in the 50 United States (namely, to/from Honolulu, Hawaii) although other airlines, notably Pan Am, Braniff International and South Pacific Island Airways, had attempted to provide nonstop service between Guam and Honolulu.http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1983 Worldwide Edition, Official Airline Guide (OAG), Guam-Honolulu flight scheduleshttp://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1979 Braniff International route map

Since May 1987, the company had the contract to provide passenger and cargo service from Honolulu and Guam to the states of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/10/21/micronesia-seeks-new-provider-for-air.html | title=Micronesia seeks new provider for air service | first=Janis L. | last=Magin | work=American City Business Journals | date=October 21, 2011}}

Before being headquartered in Guam, Continental Micronesia was headquartered in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands."World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200907.html 47]." Retrieved on June 17, 2009. "PO Box 298, Saipan, Mariana Islands 96950, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands." As time passed, the airline's Saipan traffic decreased due to the 1986 breakup of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was subdivided into smaller political units. Because of the breakup, fewer people needed to travel to Saipan, which had been the capital of the trust territory.

In 1995, Continental Airlines acquired the 9% of the company that it did not already own for $72 million from a group headed by the late Larry Hillblom.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/1997/09/22/focus2.html | title=Airline facing growth decisions | first=Sandi M. | last=Skousen | work=American City Business Journals | date=September 21, 1997}}

File:Guam Century Plaza2.JPG, which housed Continental Micronesia/Continental Airlines city ticket offices]]

By 2003, the Guam International Airport Authority moved commuter airlines out of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport's Commuter Terminal and leased the entire facility to Continental."[http://www.guamchamber.com.gu/pdf/new/F_GUAMIN.pdf Fiscal Year 2003 Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002110935/http://www.guamchamber.com.gu/pdf/new/F_GUAMIN.pdf |date=2011-10-02 }}." () Guam International Airport Authority at Guam Chamber of Commerce. 3/4. Retrieved on October 13, 2010. "Movement of Operations from Commuter Terminal to Main Terminal As part of our streamlining, the Authority successfully moved the Commuter Terminal operations to the Main Terminal and leased the entire former Commuter Terminal to Continental Airlines." In 2003, it flew from Honolulu to Guam, and from Guam to numerous PacRim and Pacific island destinations.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2002/12/02/daily91.html | title=Continental Airlines to rely more on Pacific routes | first=Howard | last=Dicus | work=American City Business Journals | date=December 7, 2002}}

As of 2004, most of the airline's employees were Guam-based, due to the location of the corporate headquarters and the airline's main hub. By 2005 Continental Micronesia's business on the island of Saipan had decreased, prompting layoffs in Saipan.Delano, Gaynor Dumat-ol. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104053847/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/guampdn/access/1775940681.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+21,+2005&author=Gaynor+Dumat-ol+Delano&pub=Pacific+Daily+News&desc=Continental+to+downsize+Oct.+4&pqatl=google Continental to downsize Oct. 4]." Pacific Daily News. September 21, 2005. Local A1. Retrieved on October 13, 2010.

Continental Micronesia employed 1,500 people and was Guam's largest private-sector employer.{{cite news | url=https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/uniteds-micronesia-operations/ | title=A Look at United's Micronesia Operations | first=Luis | last=Linares | work=Airways | date=August 25, 2017 | access-date=April 18, 2021 | archive-date=April 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419202619/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/uniteds-micronesia-operations/ | url-status=dead }} It operated 236 departures each week between 23 cities.{{cite web | url=http://www.guamlegislature.com/Leg_Res_29th/Intro/Res.No.%20159%20(LS)%20Intro..pdf | title=Res.No. 159 (LS) Intro..pdf | publisher=Legislature of Guam}}

Massachusetts-based Cape Air began services in the Mariana Islands under the Continental Connection banner on July 1, 2004. Soon afterward, Continental Micronesia eliminated most jet services to Saipan in favor of Cape Air's smaller-sized aircraft and increased frequency.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

In 2008, Continental Micronesia generated profits, operating a "niche" Guam-Honolulu route. In addition Japanese tourists, wanting to save money, decided to travel to locations closer to Japan for vacation, so Continental Micronesia gained Japanese passengers. As of that year the airline's annual payroll in Guam was $90 million (${{inflation|USD|90000000|2008|r=0|fmt=c}} when adjusted for inflation). Thirty percent of the airline's business came from its 4,300-mile island-hopper route, which began in Honolulu, made five stops and ended—14 hours and 10 minutes later—in Hagatna, Guam's capital city.{{cite news | last=Blair | first=Chad | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/06/02/story3.html | title='Air Mike' a rare bright spot in local aviation | work=American City Business Journals | date=May 30, 2008}}

In May 2008, expected subsequent military buildup and population growth could have led to an expansion of Continental Micronesia flights to and from Guam.{{cite news | last=Hensel | first=Bill Jr. | url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/houston-chronicle/20080530/282437049866942 | title=Carrier stands to gain in Guam / Pacific island expects a population influx as military realigns its forces, and Continental's hub will be there to handle it | work=Houston Chronicle | via=PressReader | date=May 30, 2008}} However, on June 12, 2008, Continental's announcement of cuts of services, routes and destinations due to high fuel prices{{cite news | url=https://www.10tv.com/article/news/continental-airlines-cut-3000-jobs-capacity/530-3f9cc168-2fa5-4fb7-97db-51cd7d4ac2a1 | title=Continental Airlines To Cut 3,000 Jobs, Capacity | work=WBNS-TV | date=June 5, 2008}}{{Cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/06/12/news/companies/airline_capacity/index.htm?postversion=2008061218 | title=Discount fliers: Your days are numbered | first=Aaron | last=Smith | work=CNN | date=June 12, 2008}} included termination of flights to Hong Kong (which has since resumed) and Bali. Also among the cuts is the termination of the Saipan-Manila flights on July 15 which is the last remaining Air Mike flight for Saipan, the airline's original hub 40 years ago.Deposa, Moneth G. [http://www.mvarietynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6614:continental-shuts-down-saipan-office&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=2 Continental shuts down Saipan office]." Marianas Variety News & Views. July 17, 2008. Retrieved on February 25, 2009. According to an opinion columnist for of the Saipan Tribune, the “declared” reason for the cancellation of the Saipan-Manila route was the fact that NCLEX tests were now available in Manila, so Filipino nurses no longer had to travel to Saipan to take the test. Before the flight's cancellation, the flight also served medical referrals from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to Manila and non-USA visa alien contract workers who were unable to transit to their final destinations via Guam; the author opined that the alien workers “particularly were Air Micronesia’s captive audience.” With only Continental Connection/Cape Air services left, Continental closed its Saipan city ticket office on the same day.

In 2009, the company began operating nonstop service between Honolulu and Nadi, Fiji.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/12/14/daily36.html | title=Continental to start Honolulu-Fiji service | work=American City Business Journals | date=December 17, 2009}}

The United-Continental merger resulted in the elimination of Continental Micronesia's operating certificate as the new entity worked towards a single air operator's certificate (SOC). The combination of Continental Micronesia's operating certificate into Continental's was approved on December 22, 2010.{{Cite web | url=https://devws.nmb.gov/NMB_Application/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/38n038.pdf | title=38 NMB No. 38 | publisher=National Mediation Board | date=April 1, 2011 | access-date=April 18, 2021 | archive-date=April 18, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418132731/https://devws.nmb.gov/NMB_Application/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/38n038.pdf | url-status=dead }}

United Airlines announced on March 22, 2017 that the "paper" merger would be completed on April 1, 2017 that would officially fold Continental Micronesia into United Airlines. It was previously a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings.{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Edward|date=February 22, 2017|title=United and Continental Micronesia to merge in April|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/united-and-continental-micronesia-to-merge-in-april/123457.article|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-08|website=Flight Global|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212094218/https://www.flightglobal.com/united-and-continental-micronesia-to-merge-in-april/123457.article |archive-date=2020-02-12 }}

Since then, flights to Micronesia are now directly operated by United Airlines.

File:Entrance to Guam International Airport.JPG was the hub of Continental Micronesia]]

Beside providing transportation within Micronesia and between the region and the United States, Continental Micronesia flew to cities in Japan (the region's main source of tourists) and other Pacific Rim destinations.

The airline flew to nine Japanese cities, more than any other U.S. carrier."[http://www.continental.com/web/en-us/content/company/investor/docs/continental_ar_2007.pdf 2007 ANNUAL REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215041157/http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/company/investor/docs/continental_ar_2007.pdf |date=2010-02-15 }}." Continental Airlines. 1. Retrieved on June 16, 2010. The airline also operated a five stop "island-hopper" route between Honolulu and Guam. The {{convert|4300|mi|km|adj=on}} route had an average duration of 14 hours and 10 minutes. Due to the special requirements of the route, each aircraft flying on this route houses an extra pilot, an extra flight attendant, a mechanic, and extra spare parts in case of a mechanical failure. Historically the airline received little competition on the "island-hopper" route. Continental Micronesia provided the only scheduled jet service in the Federated States of Micronesia and Majuro, Marshall Islands. The airline's route network linked to the network of its parent company at Honolulu, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Newark.

Due to small island populations and the corresponding amount of passenger traffic, many of Continental Micronesia's routes were flown less than daily (some as infrequent as twice weekly). The only routes with daily flights were between Guam and Fukuoka, Honolulu, Manila, Nagoya, Palau, and Tokyo.

File:ContinentalB737800Cipher.JPG at Fukuoka Airport]]

As of early 2010, Continental Micronesia operated 12 Boeing 737 and 4 Boeing 767-400 aircraft (in Pacific Configuration) from Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport on Guam. The aircraft were all owned by Continental Airlines and were rotated to Continental Micronesia.[http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=CS&al_op=1 Aircraft for Continental Micronesia]

• Boeing 747"[https://web.archive.org/web/19990220172116/http://www.flycontinental.com/micronesia/corporate/fleet/ Our Fleet]" as of February 2, 1999, Continental Airlines
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10
• Boeing 727 - includes all-passenger Boeing 727-100 and 727-200 aircraft as well as Boeing 727-100 mixed passenger/freight Combi aircraft
• Boeing 757-200
• Douglas DC-6B (prop aircraft initially assigned to Air Micronesia by Continental Airlines)"Maverick: The Story of Bob Six and Continental Airlines" by Robert J. Serling, first edition 1974, page 245
• Grumman SA-16 (prop amphibian aircraft initially operated by Air Micronesia)"Maverick: The Story of Bob Six and Continental Airlines" by Robert J. Serling, first edition 1974, page 245

• On November 21, 1980, Air Micronesia Flight 614, operated by a Boeing 727-100C registered N18479, crashed while landing at Yap International Airport on the island of Yap in Micronesia. The aircraft landed heavily {{convert|13|ft|m|0}} short of the airport's runway and the right landing gear was torn off. The Boeing 727 then slid along the runway, gradually veering off the side into the jungle. It stopped about {{convert|1700|ft|m}} from the touchdown point and a fire broke out which destroyed the aircraft. All of the 67 passengers and 6 crew members on board evacuated the burning aircraft and survived the accident.[http://www.missingaircrew.com/pdf/AAR81-07.pdf NTSB Accident Report]{{ASN accident|title=Air Micronesia Boeing 727-92C registration N18478|id=19801121-0 |accessdate=16 August 2015 }}{{Page needed|date=December 2021}}

• Continental Air Services, Inc
• List of defunct airlines of the United States

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Howard|first1=Paul|title=Pioneering in the Trusts: Postwar Airline Pioneering in US Trust Territory |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=November–December 1999|issue=84|pages=35–40 |issn=0143-5450}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.continental.com Continental Airlines] (Archive) (1999-)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.flycontinental.com/micronesia/ Continental Micronesia] (Archive, 1998-1999)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://flycontinental.com/corporate/micronesia/ Continental Micronesia] (Archive, 1997-1998)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/*/www.flycontinental.com Continental Airlines] (Archive) (1997-1998)

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Category:Defunct airlines of Guam

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Category:Transport in the Federated States of Micronesia

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Category:Companies of the Federated States of Micronesia