ILOILO CITY — Even as travel restrictions have been eased, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) clarified there are no resumptions of international flights at the airport serving as gateway to world-famous Boracay Island in Aklan province.
“There will be no international flights anytime soon,” said Engr. Eusebio Monserate Jr., CAAP chief at Kalibo International Airport, which previously had international flights for tourists going in and out of the country’s most famous beach destination.
This is the pronouncement of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that the country is ready to accept international visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting February 10.
“As of now, no airline has proposed to resume international flights,” Monserate told Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.
To recall, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores did have talks with airlines and travel agencies last December 2021 for the proposed resumption of international flights. But the threat of COVID-19’s Omicron variant got in the way.
“It’s really up to the airlines. The airport is always ready for international travelers,” Monserate added.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic of March 2020, Kalibo International Airport had direct flights to and from China, Taiwan and South Korea.
For the meantime, Kalibo International Airport only has flights flying in and out of Manila.