BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Even though the country’s travel industry has returned to almost pre-pandemic levels, fastcraft operators servicing the Bacolod-Iloilo-Bacolod route remain reluctant to add additional trips.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, fastcraft operators had a maximum of seven round trips daily.
Now, average fastcraft trips between Bacolod and Iloilo remain at two round trips daily, said Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) chief executive officer Frank Carbon who is also the operator of Weesam Express fastcraft.
Meanwhile, Weesam’s competitor, OceanJet Fast Ferry Corporation, maintains three round trips daily.
Fastcraft operators are considering adding additional trips but are reluctant to do so as they currently don’t see any additional passengers.
At present, fastcraft operators are seeing 80 to 90 percent passenger utilization rate.
Another reason why they are reluctant to add more trips is due to the incessant oil price hikes./PN
