The Air Force this month selected the small Northern Mariana Island of Tinian as a divert location for aircraft in the Pacific that need to land. The Dec. 7 selection of Tinian International Airport followed an environmental impact statement to determine the best location to both support training exercises and to increase regional humanitarian assistance capabilities, according to a Pacific Air Forces release. Tinian was selected over other locations including Saipan International Airport, Saipan; Rota International Airport, Rota; and Guam International Airport, Guam. Tinian’s airport will now be built up to support cargo, tanker, and other similar aircraft, the release states.
The Department of the Air Force wants to launch a construction boom with its fiscal 2027 budget, more than doubling its request over 2026, according to budget documents.