ILOILO City – International flights have resumed at the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo with the inaugural flight to Hong Kong departing at 11 p.m. on Sunday, October 27. The flight, carrying approximately 100 passengers, marks the relaunch of the Iloilo-to-Hong Kong route.
The maiden flight was preceded by an 8 p.m. launch event hosted by Cebu Pacific Air, carrier of the inaugural Flight 5J 242, said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) – Iloilo terminal supervisor, Arthur Parreño.
A ceremonial water cannon salute was also given to Flight 5J 242.
The flight schedule for the Iloilo-Hong Kong route includes departures every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, with return flights from Hong Kong scheduled for every Wednesday, Friday, and Monday.
The Iloilo Airport used to host regular flights to and from Hong Kong and Singapore but these were all cancelled when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
According to Parreño, the Iloilo Airport is well-equipped to handle the increased passenger traffic, noting among others that the airport’s air-conditioning units have been repaired and additional chairs have been installed.
Manuela Luisa Palma, manager of the Iloilo Airport, confirmed that the airport has been ready to manage international flights since last year, specifically highlighting the preparedness of the pre-departure area in the main passenger terminal building.
Palma mentioned that Gate 3 of the terminal, designated for international flights, can accommodate 150 international passengers and has the capability to expand capacity by adding more chairs if needed.
Palma also expressed confidence that the resumption of international flights would boost the economy of Iloilo City and the province, making it more accessible and affordable for travelers through direct flights.
The Iloilo Airport is situated on 188 hectares of land covering barangays Tabucan, Tiring, Gaub, Duyan-Duyan, and Manguna in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
The airport complex consists of a single runway, various administrative and maintenance buildings, waste-sorting and water-treatment facilities, a power-generating station, a cargo terminal, and a main passenger terminal.
Citing their economic importance, Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas has been pushing for the resumption of international flights to Singapore and Hong Kong from the Iloilo Airport.
Treñas pointed out the large number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Iloilo who are hoping for the reinstatement of flights to Hong Kong and Singapore.
During the international flights launch event on Sunday, Carmina Reyes Romero, director for Corporate Communications at Cebu Pacific, also announced the upcoming resumption of the Iloilo to Singapore route starting in November.
Also present at the launch event were Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez of the Department of Tourism (DOT); Iloilo City’s Acting Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon; Fulbert Woo, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Iloilo Chapter, Inc.; and other officials from Cebu Pacific Air and CAAP-Iloilo.
Currently, the Iloilo Airport handles an average of 30 to 32 domestic flights daily to various destinations including Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Clark, Davao, General Santos, Manila, and Puerto Princesa, with three airline companies operating, namely Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia./PN