Governor and Lt. Governor Meet with Nauru Airline Officials

Administration Working to Bring More Airline Options to Guam

Hagåtña, Guam- Building upon the success of the 26th Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) hosted by Guam last month, newly elected Chairwoman of the MIF, Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero along with Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio, and A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam (GIAA) management met with officials from the Nauru Air Corporation late afternoon yesterday, to discuss potential air service by Nauru Airlines to Guam-as it once did in the 1990's and early 2000's.

"Keeping to our established goals at the MIF of increasing air transportation service to Guam and the Micronesian Region, we are excited to continue discussions with Nauru Airlines in their pursuit of growing their offerings in our region," stated Governor Leon Guerrero. "Expanding air service options is a benefit to our people and can open up opportunities to diversify our tourism base which can lead to increased economic growth, resiliency, and competition," said Governor Leon Guerrero.

The Governor initiated discussions with the Honorable Maverick Eoe, Deputy Minister for Nauru Air Corporation and other Nauruan Officials during the 26th MIF hosted by Guam last month and invited them to return to Guam to meet specifically about the possibility of operating flights to Guam. At the meeting yesterday, the Honorable Asterio Appi, Minister for Nauru Air Corporation and Mr. Geoff Bowmaker, Chairman of Nauru Airlines joined Deputy Minister Eoe for continued dialogue. During the MIF a resolution was passed by member nations agreeing to present a unified voice to the U.S. Federal Government to request their assistance to increase competition from airlines in this region of the Pacific.

Nauru Airlines currently flies routes from Nauru to Brisbane, Australia, Palau, Pohnpei, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Fiji. Discussions involved potentially expanding routes to include Guam and the possibility of direct flights from Guam to Brisbane. Guam's strong position as a Micronesian hub means that increasing airline services could create a ripple effect, boosting connectivity and economic opportunities throughout the region as a whole.

"Although we are still in the very early stages of discussion, the Governor and I believe that these are very important steps to see the viability of another airline like Nauru Airlines flying into Guam. A route linking Australia to Guam would help bolster our tourism industry and add another tourism market to our current visitor profile. Because of this great potential, not only did we have the Guam Airport officials with us, we have also asked the Guam Visitors Bureau to meet with these officials while they are still on Guam," said Lt. Governor Tenorio.

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