By Ariel Fernandez
Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) welcomed Royal Air Philippines' inaugural flight from Hong Kong. The chartered flight, carrying 150 passengers and 2 infants, and manned by 3 cockpit crew, 4 cabin attendants and 1 flight mechanic, arrived safely in the Central Visayan province's airport at around 4:45 in the afternoon.
New Bohol Panglao Airport (DOTr / MANILA BULLETIN)
The inaugural flight was welcomed by a water cannon salute courtesy of the BPIA Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) team.
The scheduled Royal Air Philippines' Hong Kong-Bohol-Hong Kong flights will be flying to and from the airport twice a week, Mondays and Fridays starting September 30.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Area Manager Atty. Rafael Tatlonghari, several international airlines have manifested interest in operating at BPIA, mostly chartered flights from China, Korea, and Taiwan.
BPIA, which was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte last November 27, 2018, has been opened to help decongest the old Tagbilaran Airport.
With Bohol’s booming tourism industry, demand for flights is expected to continuously grow. And with BPIA’s opening and service expansion, new doors have been opened not just for the tourism sector but for other areas of the province’s economy.
The airport, which is now open from 6 am to 10 pm since September 1, is currently accommodating 17 flights daily from 1 international and 5 domestic airlines.