The Guam Visitors Bureau is working on possible new ways to drive more air traffic to Guam. President and CEO Carl Gutierrez says GVB officials met with U.S. Transportation officials in Washington for advice on how to take advantage of unused U.S. military plane slots at the Tokyo-Haneda airport.

The number and use of the slots were negotiated under a bilateral agreement between Japan and the U.S. so that carriers from the two countries have space at airports in their respective countries.

"The actual guy that does the bilaterals with Japan gave us some insight on how to get it done," Gutierrez said. "Don't keep pushing for U.S. airlines, they're under-utilizing. Foreign carriers using Haneda. So the first one I chose was Philippine Airlines. How about taking people from Haneda, to Guam to Manila this way then back that same way?"

Gutierrez says he will also propose the same routes through Haneda and Guam to other regional carriers such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines. He added, "It's looking good - I think this is a way to increase the value of Guam by having Central Tokyo as a jumping-off point, Haneda Airport."

Gutierrez is in Japan for meetings with U.S. officials in Tokyo, then will travel to Manila for meetings with Philippine Airlines.