Air Seoul began commercial flights to Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) from Incheon, South Korea Wednesday night.
The airline’s inaugural flight arrived at BPIA at 11:18 p.m., carrying 190 passengers and received water cannon salute from the airport’s aircraft rescue and firefighting team.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) information officer Karen Villanda said Air Seoul is now operating daily flights to BPIA, augmenting the existing services offered by two other airlines connecting Incheon and Bohol. She said Jin Air is also scheduled to commence commercial flights to Bohol, one of the country’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
BPIA facilitates 15 domestic and 10 international flights daily.
Villanda said this represents a new phase of tourism potential for Bohol, which is expected to draw more international visitors.
The CAAP said the daily Air Seoul flight not only provides a direct link to one of Asia’s bustling hubs but also heralds a prosperous period for Bohol’s tourism.
International airlines began offering flights to BPIA in November 2019.
CAAP said several international airlines also expressed interest in operating at BPIA, mostly chartered flights from China, Korea and Taiwan.
Its aid that with Bohol’s thriving tourism industry, the demand for flights is anticipated to continually rise.
The opening of BPIA and its service expansion has unlocked new opportunities, not only for the tourism sector but also for other aspects of the province’s economy, it said.
Among Bohol’s top attractions are white-sand beaches in Panglao, the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, the Loboc River Cruise, Bilar Man-Made Forest, scenic Alicia Panoramic Park and opportunities for dolphin and whale watching.
