The Pohnpei State Government formally received a delegation from start-up carrier One Pacific Airways, led by Public Relations Liaison Aspen Apis, who presented the airline’s strategy to expand domestic and regional air connectivity across the Federated States of Micronesia. The aviation initiative is backed by Da Yang Corporation, an enterprise with more than $200 million USD invested in fisheries operations in Kosrae, which is leveraging its established commercial presence in the region to support a sustainable air transport network.

The proposed operating plan focuses on providing scheduled passenger flights to domestic centers and remote outer islands to bridge long-standing travel gaps and complement existing regional operators. In addition to scheduled passenger and cargo transport, the airline intends to offer multi-mission capabilities for local island communities, including medical evacuations, search and rescue support, and maritime surveillance. To foster local workforce development, the company plans to establish a dedicated aviation training academy in Micronesia to prepare local pilots, certified aircraft maintenance technicians, and operational staff for careers in commercial aviation.

To establish early operations, the airline presented an introductory fleet plan starting with a Cessna 337 and advancing toward De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops, both selected for their short takeoff and landing performance on shorter island airstrips. For longer-range regional trunk routes linking Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, Majuro, and Palau, the carrier is also integrating Embraer ERJ 145 regional jets into its broader network blueprint. Pohnpei State Governor Stevenson A. Joseph welcomed the presentation and expressed strong support, emphasizing that accessible and dependable air transportation aligns with priorities set by regional leaders at recent Micronesian Islands Forums to drive local economic growth and community resilience.

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