Hot off the presses of Cebu Daily News, those who are looking to travel from Cebu to Los Angeles will be in for a pleasant surprise as the country's flag carrier is planning to open flights from Cebu to Los Angeles (LA), California in late 2009 or early 2010 in response to the clamor of Cebuanos for direct flights to the US.
“We are still looking into the possibility of having a stopover (in Korea) or a non-stop flight to the US,” Jaime Bautista, president of Philippine Airlines (PAL), said in a press conference in Cebu City.
But Bautista said the Cebu-LA flight will only be possible if the Philippines' aviation safety rating will be upgraded to Category 1.
In January 2008, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the country's rating to category 2 from category 1 after findings show that the Air Transportation Office of the Philippine failed to follow international safety standards.
Because of this, PAL cannot increase flights to the US.
Bautista, however, said he is optimistic that the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines bill will help the country get back to its category 1 rating next year.
“When it's (Category 2 rating) lifted and upgraded (to Category 1), we can increase flights to the US,” he said.
News of the Cebu-LA direct flight draw positive reactions from travel operators as the flight will provide convenience especially to American tourists.
“That's what we've been waiting for. That will help increase tourist arrivals to Cebu due to convenience,” said Jenny Franco, president of National Association of Independent Travel Agencies-Cebu.
Alice Queblatin, president of the Cebu Association of Tour Operators, said it would be better if the Cebu-LA flight will be implemented soon.
“The earlier, the better because the market is ready for it now. The balikbayan market will get a big boost. With PAL servicing direct flights, we can expect more people coming,” she said.
“Leisure and business markets will increase not only in Cebu but other islands in the Visayas with Cebu as the hub,” Queblatin added.
Around 35, 000 Americans visited Cebu from June to July 2007.
Bautista said the company is stepping up programs to improve delivery of services.
He said PAL will lease a 6.6 hectare property at the Mactan International Airport for five years at the minimum.
“We have a team which has negotiated with the MCIAA (Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority). We met Friday of the other week and presented our interest to lease,” Bautista said.
In an interview, Bautista said PAL officials are scheduled to meet with MCIAA general manager Danilo Francia to inspect the property and finalize negotiations.
He said PAL will have a hangar and maintenance facility for the Q400, Q300 and Airbus 320 aircrafts in the said property.
Bautista told reporters that new aircrafts will be delivered from 2008 to 2012 including five Airbus-320s, two Bombardier Q-300s and six Boeing 777-300s.
“When all these airplanes arrive, we will have a total of 50 airplanes by 2012. This is the same number of airplanes we had before we filed for rehabilitation in 1999,” said Bautista.
He said these aircraft will increase the number of flights PAL is serving across different domestic, regional and international destinations.
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