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    Philippines' Iloilo airport readies for int'l flights

    Iloilo City (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Iloilo international airport of the Philippines will start hosting direct international flights on Thursday, a move seen as a "big boost" to tourism for Iloilo and Western Visayas region.

    Budget carrier Cebu Pacific will launch an inaugural flight to Hong Kong with a programme at 6pm, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director, Helen Catalbas. Departure time is 11:10pm.

    Cebu Pacific flights to Singapore will commence on November 9, three times a week. The Iloilo-Hong Kong flights will be twice a week.

    Related story: Supporting tourism

    Tourist arrivals are expected to increase significantly in Western Visayas with the opening of regular international flights along with regional flights earlier this year from the Iloilo airport in Cabatuan town outside the city. The 8.76-billion peso (US$212.26 million) airport opened in June 2007.

    Catalbas estimated a 15-per cent increase in domestic and foreign tourist arrivals this year from last year's total number of 2.47 million.

    The inaugural flight from Hong Kong is scheduled to arrive in Iloilo at 4:45am on November 9, carrying the heads of 10 Filipino migrant workers groups and Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Noel Servigon.

    The maiden flight from Singapore will arrive in Iloilo at 6:10am on November 10 with representatives of 12 Singaporean travel agencies onboard, according to Catalbas.

    With the start of direct international flights, Iloilo becomes the fifth Cebu Pacific hub after Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao.

    Last week, the DOT turned over to the Bureau of Immigration six computer units to be used for scanning and verifying passports of foreign passengers.

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    Editor’s note:Yahoo! Philippines encourages responsible comments that add dimension to the discussion. No bashing or hate speech, please. You can express your opinion without slamming others or making derogatory remarks.

     

    143 comments

    • 3A  •  4 days ago
      Praise God ! we got this new international airport.
    • Yichi  •  3 days ago
      I'm from Manila pero naka-based ako dito sa Iloilo... I LOVE ILOILO...The Iloilo AIrport? Napakaganda ng airport. malinis. hindi crowded. mababait ang mga staff at mahigpit ang seguridad nila...
    • tom  •  4 days ago
      ...good news ! Go Philippines!!!
    • Erap... serbisyong tarant ...  •  4 days ago
      I think Bohol should be next.
      • tutuy 3 days ago
        approved na ng NEDA ang bagong airport sa Panglao..
    • Drew  •  3 days ago
      Just make sure that ALL facilitiees especially the restrooms and lounge area are well equipped with the proper needs of travelers. Also, to ensure that ALL immigration personnel are well trained free of corruptions on all level of staff.
    • Comment  •  4 days ago
      Okay Yahoo, next time use the right picture. It's still NAIA in there.
    • Jose Luigi  •  4 days ago
      Very nice, we don't have to go through the horrible NAIA Terminal 1 for flights going to Singapore and Iloilo is just a 1 hour ferry ride away from my hometown . My father has been planning for another vacation there sometime soon.
    • vender  •  4 days ago
      Let the spill over of progress begin!!
    • DULJO  •  4 days ago
      Ito'y magandang balita... Para mabawasan na ang kita ng mga corrupt sa "Manila Airport"...
    • Liam  •  3 days ago
      wow!!! DOT and Bureau of immigration good job,." Padayun sa pag uswag ILOILO!!
    • jeuzzz  •  4 days ago
      HM Hon. Pres. Noynoy Aquino lll, as i remembered last President Joseph Estrada correct me if I am wrong please... allocated millions of pesos to upgrade Antique Airport. Where is this money now? Antique is rich in unique flora and fauna, natural resources, lots of gold mine here. I remembered when i was young, we are trailing/climbing up the abundant smell Basil plant mountain where the ground is sparkling/glittering in color gold. Before we reach the mountain top, we have to pass the entance cave where you can hear the wave of the sea and you will notice that your flashlight will not work inside the very cold cave. And before you exit in the other part of the mountain, inside the cave you will have many wonderful experience. But... you have to follow the cave explorer rule. Or else---- ''engkanto'' will take you in other world. And you will disappear forever. Many caves in Ilo-ilo or Antique whereas used as hide out of Filipino guerilla during WWll. Bring metal detector and find many treasure buried somewhere.
    • Ram  •  4 days ago
      sana international airlines din para di ma traffic sa NAIA
    • delbz  •  4 days ago
      Palawan should have an international airport. tourist can fly in directly and not thru T1 with its congested and snail pace renovation.
    • Kis  •  4 days ago
      Dito ako sa Iloilo airport unang nakaranas ng pakialamera at masungit na airport police. The only problem with their airport is sobrang malayo sa city and the taxi cabs are like in Manila rin, gagatasan ka talaga. But anyways maganda naman ang airport, at ang countryside view papuntang airport.
    • Roel S  •  3 days ago
      This is very good news this will lessen the load of the other airports of the country. i hope they get better radars and clean facilities than other airport in the Philippines
    • Ricardo  •  3 days ago
      Soon NAIA problem will be a thing of the past. Less people will be using NAIA. You won't have congestion in the lobby and toilet will not run out of water and good faucet as well as immigration counters .You can go direct to the nearest international airport outside of Manila.Sounds great? Nahh...
    • RRyn  •  3 days ago
      Let us make Boracay the Bali beach of the Philippines.
    • Arnel  •  4 days ago
      Good news...... God bless the Philippines
    • Eric Dannug  •  2 days 16 hours ago
      Sana hindi kasama sa worst airport sa buong mundo ang Iloilo International Airport na katulad sa NAIA. :(
    • Magic Mike  •  3 days ago
      good news to all the Pinoys in the South.. :)
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