Resumption of int’l flights at Iloilo Airport still uncertain

The resumption of international flights from and to the Iloilo Airport — the main gateway of Western Visayas — remains uncertain.

In a media interview, Department of Tourism (DOT-6) director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said they have already  communicated with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) the requests of local chief executives in Iloilo to resume international flights.

Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. and Mayor Jerry Trenas have been pushing for the return of direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore and vice versa.

But according to Rodriguez, there is a need to ensure that there is a demand from the two countries to resume the flights.

“So we’re trying to work that out. We hope to get demand from those coming from other countries as well, not only the demand of Filipinos,” she said. 

International flight operations at the airport in Cabatuan town were stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airport used to cater to flights to Hong Kong every Monday and Friday and Singapore every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.IMT