2 Indonesian airline companies interested on Davao-Manado flight
Published Jul 5, 2019 06:35 pm
By Antonio Colina IV
DAVAO CITY – Two airline companies from Indonesia and another from the Philippines have expressed interest to reestablish direct flights between Davao City and Manado in North Sulawesi, Indonesia as part of the efforts to strengthen the connectivity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesian Consul General Dicky Fabrian said.
Indonesian Consul General Dicky Fabrian (Indonesian Consulate General Davao FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Fabrian said in an interview that either Garuda Group’s Citylink Indonesia or Lion Air from the Indonesian side, and Philippine Airline’s PAL Express might service the direct air linkage.
The consul general said initial talks have begun with PAL Express.
“We hope, by the end of this year, there is at least soft launching of the direct flight, but again either PAL Express first or our carrier Citylink or Lionair,” he said.
Fabrian added the airlines have also asked that they would be allowed to have a layover either in Cebu or Manila for the return flight to Manado from Davao.
He said the revival of the Davao-Manado air linkage will be important in strengthening ASEAN connectivity, cutting the travel time to four hours at the most for tourists and business executives from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, compared to the circuitous route of flying from Jakarta to Davao via Manila.
Seeing more travelers from both sides, the Indonesian diplomat said he was confident that the direct air linkage between Davao and Manado, a popular diving site in Indonesia, will enjoy high patronage.
He said the airline servicing the route would also offer cargo services.
On September 1, 2018, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong T. Wee and Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Sinyo Harry Sarundajang signed a statement to promote the reestablishment of the air route, and this was witnessed by Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Makati City.
Both Wee and Sarundajang agreed to promote the revival of the defunct route to increase trade, tourism, and investment between the two countries.
Indonesian Consul General Dicky Fabrian (Indonesian Consulate General Davao FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Fabrian said in an interview that either Garuda Group’s Citylink Indonesia or Lion Air from the Indonesian side, and Philippine Airline’s PAL Express might service the direct air linkage.
The consul general said initial talks have begun with PAL Express.
“We hope, by the end of this year, there is at least soft launching of the direct flight, but again either PAL Express first or our carrier Citylink or Lionair,” he said.
Fabrian added the airlines have also asked that they would be allowed to have a layover either in Cebu or Manila for the return flight to Manado from Davao.
He said the revival of the Davao-Manado air linkage will be important in strengthening ASEAN connectivity, cutting the travel time to four hours at the most for tourists and business executives from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, compared to the circuitous route of flying from Jakarta to Davao via Manila.
Seeing more travelers from both sides, the Indonesian diplomat said he was confident that the direct air linkage between Davao and Manado, a popular diving site in Indonesia, will enjoy high patronage.
He said the airline servicing the route would also offer cargo services.
On September 1, 2018, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong T. Wee and Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Sinyo Harry Sarundajang signed a statement to promote the reestablishment of the air route, and this was witnessed by Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Makati City.
Both Wee and Sarundajang agreed to promote the revival of the defunct route to increase trade, tourism, and investment between the two countries.