We have been saying this all along- Kalibo and Boracay are the real destinations in Western Visayas and NOT Iloilo nor Negros. How and why Iloilo and Silay Cities got the International Airport status is totally unimaginable. Last May 11th, Asian Spirit started its maiden non-stop voyage from the port city of Incheon, Korea and landed in the town of Kalibo, a town famous for the grandest, most riotous and the wildest among all the Philippine festivals - the Atiatihan Festival held every Third Week of January and also serves as the gateway to one of the top 10 best beaches in the world and the queen jewel of Philippine tourism- Boracay Island.
Before this flights, Kalibo Airport has already been accepting chartered flights from Russia and other countries in the past. With Asian Spirit providing the first flights, it is expected that other airlines (Cebu Pacific, PAL, Air Asia and other budget airlines perhaps?) would be likely to follow. Now, I wonder who would be using the Iloilo International? Or the Silay International? If I am a tourist, I would definitely choose the airport closer to my destination which in this case would be Boracay. I wouldnt want to travel at least 4-5 more hours by land when I can cut my travel time to one hour right? In the case of Iloilo Airport, my hunch is that it will be converted into a cargo airport like Subic which does make sense since most of the major businesses in the region is located in Iloilo, but as a tourist airport, I really dont see any potential for that airport -there are not enough tourist destinations in Iloilo- except for the scattered heritage houses, and churches. Silay Airport is a bit redundant then if you have the Iloilo Airport for international cargo. The main tourist destination in Negros is Apo Island off Dumaguete, which is too far from Silay.
Anyway, here is a news report from Sun Star Iloilo regarding the first Kalibo Flights:
1st international flight lands in Kalibo
KALIBO -- A historic day and a dream come true in the province of Aklan and the municipality of Kalibo.
This was how Aklan Representative Florencio T. Miraflores described the landing Friday at the Kalibo Airport of Aklan's first international flight.
The landing of the Asian Spirit plane here from Incheon, South Korea to Kalibo was also Western Visayas' first international flight.
The McDonnel Douglas MD82 plane touched down the Kalibo Airport at 11:50 a.m., loaded with passengers from South Korea, who were welcomed at the airport reception area by Aklan's officials.
Representative Miraflores said that with the landing of the first international flight in Aklan, it is foreseen that the Kalibo Airport will be further developed into its true international status.
He recalled that when he was the governor of the province and the chairperson of the Regional Development Council, he fought for the conversion of the Kalibo Airport to an international one, but then Iloilo was selected to be the site.
This did not deter him and the other Aklan leaders to pursue the dream, " and finally, today, this is the realization of that dream," he said.
Miraflores also acknowledged the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for providing the budget for the Instrumental Landing System and the Navigation Aid, which enabled the Kalibo Airport to be ready for international flights.
"This first international flight is just the start of better things to come to Aklan. If Kalibo will be developed into its true international status, Governor Marquez and I could go to Malacaang and say "Madame President, here is the proof that the best destination is Kalibo and not Iloilo.
Then if we are given more funds, we can extend the terminal, although a budget of P50 million has been included already for the extension of the departure and arrival area for international flights.
We still think this is not enough, as we should prepare for the influx of more tourists. We expect Asiana, Korean Airlines and PAL to come in because we have proven today that Kalibo is ready for business in the international market," Miraflores said.
Miraflores also said that his and Governor Marquez' next step is to request the Air Transportation Office to grant the Kalibo Airport an international gateway status so anytime, day and night, the airport could be used.
For his part, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez said the province' opening to international flights will immensely boost Aklan's status as a world tourist destination. He also said that a booming tourism industry would help alleviate poverty, which is a must in Aklan.
On the other hand, Alan Java, Area Manager, Area Centerpoint of ATO in Iloilo City said he could not help but agree that the unity of Aklan leaders beat all the odds, "because today is a milestone in history of aviation industry in Region 6, that despite the allocation of P6 billion for Iloilo International Airport, Kalibo was the first to receive an international flight."
Java also conveyed the congratulatory greetings and assurance of ATO Assistant Secretary Nilo Jalico to continue "this endeavor started until this airport really becomes the gateway of the entire Panay Island and Western Visayas to the international community as far as international flights is concerned. While Iloilo is still planning big flights, you have done it."
DOT Regional Director, who also gave a message in the short program after the arrival of the inaugural flight, emphasized the importance of doing things together as shown by Aklan's leadership.
He said the flight was a historic event in the sense that not only was this the first international flight from a regional destination but this also Aklan's contribution to the development of the tourism industry in Western Visayas.
"Despite the waiting in the wings of international airports in Iloilo and Bacolod, I guess they have to learn something from what you have done here," Trompeta said.
The Asian Spirit flights, according to an airline official, will land in Aklan twice a week - every Friday and Monday. The plane is a 165 seater. Travel time from South Korea to Kalibo is four hours. (Venus G. Villanueva-PIA)
HELLO WORLD! WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY TO WESTERN VISAYAS- WELCOME TO KALIBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!
wow
ReplyDeletePhilippine Airlines will open another Korea-Kalibo flight. Plans are now being drawn for flights from Kalibo to Singapore as well as Kalibo-Hongkong routes.
ReplyDeleteTourists can now fly directly to Aklan for Boracay tour
By Leila Salaverria
Inquirer
Last updated 01:37am (Mla time) 06/01/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- Tourists from South Korea can fly directly to Kalibo, Aklan, and need not make a stopover in Manila if they would like to go to Boracay Island, the Bureau of Immigration announced on Thursday.
Kalibo town is now a limited port of entry for foreigners after the BI opened its office there to service international flights, according to Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.
Libanan said in a statement that the bureau started its Kalibo operations on May 11, processing the documents of the 65 passengers of the maiden flight of an Asian Spirit jetliner that brought tourists from Incheon, South Korea.
Asian Spirit has since been making direct flights from Incheon to Kalibo twice a week, which has been facilitating the arrival of Koreans, according to Libanan.
Kalibo is a two-hour journey from Caticlan, which is the nearest coastal village to the internationally renowned Boracay Island, which is popular with vacationers even in the non-summer months.
Libanan also said the immigration bureau will increase its presence in Kalibo in the coming months when the Philippine Airlines begins its flights to and from Incheon. Other airlines are also drawing up plans to have direct flights to Kalibo from international destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong.
The direct flights to Kalibo arose from the lobbying of local officials in Aklan, who wanted to push the development of tourism in their areas, according to BI boarding section chief Jose Carandang.
Carandang said the Aklan provincial government promised to construct a new terminal at the Kalibo airport to cater to foreign passengers and house the immigration office.
The BI has established a sub-office in Boracay for foreign tourists on the island who might want to extend their foreign visas. The sub-office was established so that tourists need not go to Manila or Iloilo City for the processing of their documents.
Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
While Chartered flights from Incheon, Korea, and Shanghai, China already started, another route - Hong Kong- Kalibo is being planned in the very near future- as well as Beijing-Kalibo.
ReplyDeletePacific Pearl Airways flies to Kalibo
By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan – Pacific Pearl Airways (PPA) is the newest low cost carrier operating chartered flights in both domestic and foreign routes to landed at the Kalibo domestic airport yesterday morning.
The Boeing 737-200 aircraft with a seating capacity of 114 boosts the status of Kalibo Domestic Airport as the next international gateway, Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores said.
Last May 11, 2007, Asian Spirit Mc-Donnel Douglas MD82 started its direct flights from Inchon, South Korea to Kalibo, to accommodate Korean tourists bound for Boracay.
The first international flight from Pudong, Shanghai, China of the 156-seater Philippine Airlines (PAL) Airbus 320 also arrived last October 1 here.
Miraflores thanked the Jimenez family of Pacific Pearl Airways for bringing the company in Aklan as its preferred destination for tourism players and investors.
Apart from the famous Boracay Island, the province is the most-sought after destination in Central Philippines with its yearly Señor Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan Festival, Kalibo Bakhawan Eco-tourism park, Bugna it Tangalan and the Wild Wild River of the town of Libacao.
“The national government through President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the P290-million expansion of airport runway and a new arrival terminal building for P84-million to accommodate tourists and visitors next year," he said.
The Manila-based airline company chose Aklan and several destinations in the Philippines namely Subic, Cebu and Davao to enhance the tourism, trade and investments and to provide affordable and comfortable plane service to passengers, according to Eligio Jimenez, PPA Vice-President for marketing.
Air Transportation Office (ATO) airport manager Engr. Percy Malonesio, Provincial Administrator Diego Luces and Sangguniang Bayan member Gregorio Malapad also welcomed the PPA officials.
ha ha ha..your ignorance is amusing..another idiot blog..iloilo has alot to offer more than tourism..does kalibo airport can accommodate Airbus A330..for all i know only midget airline can only land in kalibo..does kalibo offer anything else aside from boracay? iloilo does not need an airport to accommodate tourism..it's need international airport to cater it's vast manpower of seamen and oversees worker
ReplyDelete