Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) yesterday welcomed Asiana Airlines’ maiden flight from Incheon, South Korea.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the inaugural flight carried 177 passengers from Incheon at 12:13 a.m. on July 20.
Anghelo Ibañez, BPIA acting airport manager, said local government officials welcomed the arriving passengers during the inaugural ceremony at the airport.
Ibañez said Asiana Airlines will fly to Bohol every Wednesday and Saturday and will aim to ramp up direct flights to Bohol in the near future.
The continued increase in the number of flights at BPIA, particularly the international flights, signifies the rising demand among passengers and tourists visiting the province which will eventually boost economic activities in Bohol.
Other carriers operating international flights at BPIA are Philippine Airlines (PAL), Royal Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Korean Air and Pan Pacific.
CAAP said airlines operating domestic flights at BPIA include AirAsia Philippines, Cebu Pacific and its unit CebuGo, AirSwift, AirJuan, Royal Air and PAL.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expected to conduct a Swiss challenge for Bohol International Airport’s operation, rehabilitation and expansion project before the year ends.
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., submitted to the government an unsolicited proposal for the airport that is still under evaluation by the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee, the DOTr said. – Myla Iglesias
