Mayor seeks resumption of Baguio-Cebu flights at Loakan Airport

Loakan Runway
BAGUIO-CEBU FLIGHTS. Mayor Benjamin Magalong actively pursues the resumption of Baguio to Cebu flights with Philippine Airlines, emphasizing the route's potential to boost tourism and connectivity. He is also reaching out to other airline companies to explore opportunities for establishing regular commercial flights at Loakan Airport to better serve passengers traveling to and from the Summer Capital and other parts of the country. (GMB file photo)

BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Benjamin Magalong, on Dec. 2, said he has spoken to the President of Philippine Airlines (PAL) on the possibility of resuming their Baguio to Cebu and vice-versa commercial flights at Loakan Airport, but was told that this must first be discussed by the company’s board of directors.

The Mayor was informed that since the flag carrier launched the route in December 2022, it faced significant financial losses.

This was despite a noticeable increase in passenger traffic during peak periods such as the Christmas season and February, when the Baguio Flower Festival, locally known as ‘Panagbenga,’ attracts large crowds.

PAL’s commercial flights from Baguio to Cebu and vice-versa, with an average travel time of one hour and 45 minutes, ceased operations on July 1, this year, due to suffering poor passenger traffic in most months of the year.

Magalong stated that he is actively working to persuade the Philippine Airlines (PAL) board to approve the resumption of commercial flights between Baguio and Cebu, as the final decision rests with them.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the city government is exploring alternatives by reaching out to other airline companies.

They aim to gauge interest in establishing commercial flights at Loakan Airport, which would connect the Summer Capital to various destinations across the country, enhancing travel convenience for passengers.

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