CAAP Set To Open Two Airports In December

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) aims to open two airports in Baguio and Borongan cities this December.

Starting December 16, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will mount direct flights between Cebu and Baguio City, operating 4 times weekly with convenient morning departures.

PAL recently conducted a test flight at the Baguio Loakan Airport using a De Havilland Dash 8-400 New Generation aircraft with a seating capacity of 84 passengers.

According to PAL, adding the Baguio route is a homage to the flag carrier’s beginnings in 1941. The Loakan Airport was used as a heliport during the 1990 killer earthquake for search and rescue operations and transporting goods.

In the 2000s, airline companies withdrew from commercial operations due to costly airfare, safety reasons, and lack of demand.

“However, with the advancement of technology in modern aircraft, we have GPS now, so we safely guide airplanes, and we know which altitudes are safe for them to fly. The runway is long enough for a turboprop aircraft,” PAL President and COO Capt. Stanley Ng said.

Meanwhile, Borongan City Airport will operate their Cebu-Borongan return flights twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, starting December 19.

Currently, those who fly to the capital of Eastern Samar province would have to land at Tacloban Airport. It takes five to six hours by land to reach Borongan City. The other option is to travel by bus and ferry from Manila, which takes around 2 days.

Borongan City Airport was completed in March 2013 but was rarely used for commercial flights and had to completely shut down at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Agda said that the airport is capable of serving charter flights due to the increase in its potential market of over 500,000 travelers.

Airlines expect a surge of travelers this December due to the Christmas rush, and as the economy restarts after a 2-year pandemic lockdown.

Source: ABS-CBN