The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), in coordination with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and local government units (LGUs), IS set to re-open today (Dec. 16) the Loakan Airport in Benguet and the Borongan Airport in Eastern Samar for commercial flights.
The reopening of the Loakan Airport near Baguio City was expected to boost tourism and the economy in their respective areas.
PAL will be launching its Cebu-Baguio flights today to signal Loakan Airport’s reopening.
The airport will continue to undergo renovations and upgrades, including the extension of its runway to accommodate larger aircraft.
“The opening of Loakan Airport is a major milestone for the city. It will improve connectivity and accessibility, which will in turn drive economic growth and development in the area,” said CAAP director general Manuel Antonio Tamayo.
Meanwhile, Borongan Airport has also been undergoing renovations and upgrades for the past few years. The improvements include a renovated terminal building and future runway expansion. The airport is now capable of handling turboprop and small jet aircraft, allowing for direct flights from Manila to Borongan.
PAL’s Manila-Cebu-Borongan route will have its maiden flight on Monday.
“The Borongan Airport will greatly benefit the people of Eastern Samar by providing them with easier and more direct access to the rest of the country. It will also open up opportunities for trade and tourism in the area such as in the city’s unexplored and booming surfing sites,” Tamayo said.
He said the opening of Borongan Airport and Loakan Airport is a positive development for the local communities and
economies in Eastern Samar and Baguio City.
CAAP is confident that the re-opening of these airports to commercial operations will not only provide more transportation options and opportunities for trade and tourism but is also a step towards CAAP and Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) goal of providing a more affordable, reliable, comfortable, and convenient air transportation
system for the Philippines.
Aside from the launching of direct flights to Baguio and Borongan, international flights at Aklan’s Kalibo International Airport (KIA) to and from Taipei via TigerAir will also be launched starting on Dec.
