ILOILO City – The Iloilo Airport is ready to accommodate international flights if airlines decide to resume them, according to of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Region 6.
Citing their economic importance, Mayor Jerry Treñas has been pushing for the resumption of international flights to Singapore and Hong Kong from the Iloilo Airport located in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
According to Engr. Eusebio Monserate Jr., CAAP-6 area manager, the decision to resume international flights from the Iloilo Airport is up to airlines such as Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and AirAsia.
“We are ready to accept international flights if there is a proposal from the airlines,” Monserate said.
He added that CAAP-Iloilo can implement measures to cater to international flights, such as scheduling arrivals and departures during night time to avoid congestion.
Monserate also clarified that CAAP has no control over airline ticket prices.
“Airlines determine the price of tickets. We at CAAP just provide the airspace, runway, terminal, ramp, and all equipment for the passengers. But as to the airfare, CAAP has no control,” Monserate said.
Currently, the Iloilo Airport caters to 70 flights daily, with 35 arrivals and 35 departures.
Mayor Treñas recently requested the three airlines operating at Iloilo Airport to increase the number of local flights and reinstate international routes.
He also lamented the high cost of Manila-Iloilo flights compared to Manila-Bacolod and other routes.
“I traveled to Manila recently, and the Manila-Iloilo flights were much more expensive compared to Manila-Bacolod and other routes,” Treñas said.
He emphasized the heavy traffic on Manila-Iloilo and vice versa flights, arguing that additional flights would help reduce ticket prices.
“Many people travel on Manila-Iloilo and Iloilo-Manila flights, so I requested more flights to bring down the prices,” he said.
Treñas also 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.
“I hope the Hong Kong and Singapore flights will return to make it easier for them. That’s what I wrote to our airlines,” Treñas said.
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./PN
