Local carrier boosts domestic flights

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is mounting more flights from Manila to Pagadian beginning Aug. 25 as carriers gradually expand operations with the easing of strict lockdown rules.

PAL said it would soon fly five times a week to the capital city of Zamboanga del Sur from its current three times per week service.

The carrier is also gearing up for more flights to Cagayan de Oro, which will be served daily from Manila from its current four-times weekly schedule.

After President Duterte returned Metro Manila to general community quarantine, PAL restored flights from Manila to Puerto Princesa, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, Butuan, Dipolog, Ozamiz, Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, Catarman, Dumaguete and Kalibo.

“The Cebu hub will also be operating flights to Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Tacloban and Zamboanga while the hub in Clark will resume flights to Davao,” PAL said.

Up next is the resumption of flights between Manila and Bacolod as well as Manila and Roxas, the flag carrier said.

The recovery in air travel in the Philippines and the rest of the world, however, remains challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a briefing organized by the Department of Transportation last week, Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla said “the outlook is still quite bleak” due to travel restrictions and less demand for air travel.

He noted that passenger volume from June to August this year in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport was less than 3 percent of what it was last year. This was also due to the strict lockdown imposed in Metro Manila for two weeks in August.

Carmelo said he also feared the economic downturn would further depress demand for air travel.

“The economic cycle is linked to air travel,” he said. Local government unit restrictions remain in place given their different COVID-19 hazard levels.

“Our advice to passengers is always communicate with your airlines. To the airlines, we told them always advise their passengers,” Arcilla said.

As of Aug. 21, the DOTr said there were 32 airports in the country whose local governments have issued orders categorically supporting the resumption of commercial airport operations.

The gateways were Naia, Clark International Airport, Mactan Cebu Airport, Romblon, Cauayan, Palanan, Laguindingan, Dipolog, Pagadian, Jolo, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Davao International Airport, General Santos, Legazpi and San Jose. Other gateways were Ozamiz, Virac, Basco, Tacloban, Ormoc, Catbalogan, Catarman, Borongan, Antique, Kalibo, Busuanga, Butuan, Marinduque, Caticlan, Puerto Princesa and Tuguegarao. INQ