CNMI airline cuts hours, lays off staff

8:00 pm on 21 September 2015

An airline in the Northern Marianas has reduced its operations and cut jobs with the expected closure of a major casino and hotel in the territory.

Dynasty casino, Tinian, CNMI.

Dynasty casino, Tinian, CNMI. Photo: RNZ / Mark Rabago

Star Marianas Air which flies between Tinian and Saipan has reduced its hours and let go of about 10 percent of its staff on Tinian, with more to be retrenched in the coming days.

The Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino is expected to close down before the end of September.

The airline's president Shaun Christian says the resort's anticipated closure has substantially reduced the number of travellers between the islands.

He says hopes of a solution that would encourage the hotel to stay open are quickly fading and the cuts are necessary to keep the airline viable.