Boracay Airport ready to serve regional airlines

The nearest air gateway serving beach hotspot Boracay Island will soon be on the map of regional carriers.

Boracay Airport, the closer of two airports serving Boracay Island, recently completed the expansion of its runway, allowing it to cater to larger commercial jets.

Its operator, San Miguel Corp., said in a statement on Wednesday that Boracay Airport was eyeing airlines with flights to South Korea, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.

“For passengers, this can only mean more airlines competing to offer better services, more affordable airfares, convenience, and less travel time. For the people of Aklan, this will create livelihood opportunities, further boost tourism, and improve their economy,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said.

Previously, Boracay Airport could only serve smaller turbo-prob aircraft, limiting its operations to certain domestic carriers. That changed when a multiyear expansion to extend its runway from 950 meters to 1,700 meters was completed.

Last Nov. 18,  a Cebu Pacific Airbus A320 landed on Boracay Airport, marking the start of larger jet operations at the air gateway. SMC said they were still preparing for international jet operations.

SMC said it expects to complete construction of the interim terminal toward the end of the year, to accommodate the projected increase in passengers with the shift to bigger aircraft.

A permanent world-class international passenger terminal with 12 air bridges is also being built.

“With the shift to bigger jets, travelers will now have faster and more convenient access to the island as it takes a mere five-minute ride from the jetty port, the jump off point from the airport, to Boracay island,” SMC said.

“Together with the runway expansion, the Boracay Airport now boasts of an apron that can accommodate up to nine Airbus A320s or Boeing 737-900 aircraft. The old ramp used to host only four turbo propeller aircraft,” it added.