By Freddie Lazaro and Liezle Basa-Inigo
LAL-LO, Cagayan – The Cagayan North International Airport (CNIA) has begun its commercial services with Royal Airlines with the opening of the Macau-Lal-lo route Sunday.
1ST COMMERCIAL FLIGHT. Undersecretary Raymundo T. Roquero (center) Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Special Assistant for Investment and Promotions and Mayor Oliver Pascual (right) of Lal-lo, Cagayan, former Mayor Federico Pascual, Laurence Umayam Technical Head Assistant Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon; and Peter Lee Plane Charterer, makes the thumbs sign in welcoming the passengers during the first commercial direct flight from Macau to Lal-lo by Royal Air on Sunday. (FREDDIE LAZARO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Royal Air (RJ) flight 100 arrived from the Macau International Airport with 99 passengers on board to mark the first of the airlines’ international and domestic flights every Wednesday and Sunday.
RJ will be flying from Macau, and will also ferry passengers from Clark to Lal-lo twice a week.
Cagayan Special Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Administrator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Raul L. Lambino said the start of the international and domestic operations of RJ out of Lal-lo airport will further boost tourism, business, and investments in Region 2, especially at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
CEZA officials, led by Special Assistant for Investments and Promotions Raymund Roquero, and officials of the Municipality of Lal-lo, led by mayor Oliver Pascual, welcomed the arrival of the inaugural flight with the traditional ceremonial water cannon salute on the aircraft, while guests and visitors were greeted with flowers leis.
The inaugural pageantry was also attended by students of Lagoc National High School, who performed a street dance to the sounds of drums to entertain the visibly pleased visitors, many of them anticipating a tour of the different tourist spots and white sand beaches of Cagayan.
To boost its initial flights, Royal Airlines will be offering cheap airfare for its round-trip domestic flights for the Clark and Lallo route, set every Wednesday and Sunday.
Roquero said the effort to bring commercial direct flights to international destinations will allow easier and safer travel for foreign tourists.