STAR Marianas based on Tinian marked 15 years in business. Its President and Chief Pilot Shaun Christian, whose family moved to the NMI in 1985 when he was 7, has seen the ups and downs of the industry, following in his father’s footsteps.

President & Chief Pilot of STAR Marianas Shaun Christian said, "One of the ways we remain reliable is we invest in more aircraft than would be needed on a daily basis."

He added, "That way when we do have scheduled maintenance that is going to take more than a week or two to accomplish we can push other aircraft in. We are very proud to say we have never canceled a scheduled flight due to mechanical issues. "

For Rota and Tinian residents, it’s they’re the only airline option. STAR Marianas brought KUAM to their headquarters on Tinian for a behind-the-scenes look at their operation amid the CNMI’s economic downturn. 

Their fleet of aircraft flies an average of a hundred times between Saipan and Tinian every day, three flights between Rota and Saipan daily, and one flight between Rota and Guam on weekdays.  

Christian explained, "We are seeing some recovery, which is good. There is some more military activity on Tinian, which is increasing demand on things as we are hoping more tourism will come in and that will spread to the outer islands."

But what most passengers don’t see is how complicated it can be to operate in the Marianas. The cost of planes, insurance, and recruitment and training of pilots add up. They also have to import specialized fuel for the aircraft, order parts, and make advanced deposits sometimes two years before equipment is scheduled to arrive. 

He said, "We are trying our best to be as efficient as we possibly can. There are costs beyond our control. We’ve raised issues with some of the various agencies that have control over those costs. We’ve been looking for dialogues for ways we can work cooperatively. It does not have to be a zero-sum game."

And they’ve seen other airlines close amid a steep drop in tourism, but they welcome competition. 

"We are not against competition by any means, we think as long as the competition is fair, that is very important. To have a carrier out here that is established, been doing our best for 15 years, to then to not maybe get certain incentives or benefits, to bring in another group, is…dissapointing…," he told KUAM News. 

They hope to continue to provide an essential bridge in the air that many rely on.