Star Marianas Air
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Tinian Municipality , Northern Mariana Islands, United States |
Area served | Northern Mariana Islands and Guam |
| Products | Scheduled and charter passenger air services |
Star Marianas Air, Inc. is a commuter airline based in the United States, with its main office located at Tinian International Airport in Tinian Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands. The airline provides both scheduled and charter passenger services across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, which are U.S. territories situated in the Pacific region.
As the exclusive carrier linking Guam to the smaller islands within the Northern Marianas, Star Marianas Air serves a vital function in facilitating regional travel. Support from the Essential Air Service program has been championed by Congressman Gregorio Sablan to help maintain these crucial air routes.
The airline’s fleet consists of small aircraft that connect Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, offering flights as brief as ten minutes between these destinations.
History
The name Star Marianas Air derives from the initial letters of the four islands representing the three largest municipalities in the Northern Mariana Islands: Saipan, Tinian & Aguigan, and Rota.
Established in 2008 and receiving Federal Aviation Administration approval in April 2009, Star Marianas Air commenced its inaugural flight linking Tinian and Saipan with a Piper PA-32 aircraft. By 2010, its fleet had expanded to six Piper PA-32 planes. The year 2013 saw the addition of five Piper PA-31 aircraft and an extension of charter operations to include Rota and Guam.
In June 2014, the airline obtained authorization from both the FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation to initiate scheduled flights between Saipan, Rota, and Tinian, moving beyond solely charter services. That same year, it earned recognition as a Commuter Air Carrier.
By 2016, Star Marianas Air operated seven Piper PA-32s alongside five Piper PA-31s, supporting an average of 200 flights daily. Additionally, 2016 marked the introduction of nonstop service between Saipan and Guam utilizing a fleet of eleven small Piper aircraft.
In 2021, commuter operations were interrupted for a total duration of four weeks. Following the withdrawal of competitors Marianas Southern and Asiana Airlines from the regional market in 2023, Star Marianas became the only local airline apart from United’s Boeing 737 service connecting Saipan and Guam.
Destinations
Star Marianas Air serves four primary airports: Saipan International Airport, Rota International Airport, Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (near Hagåtña, Guam), and Tinian International Airport.
Fleet
| Type | Number in Fleet | Orders | Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee 6 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain | 5 | 0 | 8 |