"The addition of Laoag City to our routes is very significant as we continue to expand our reach to the northern part of the Philippines," Asian Spirit executive vice president Jack Po said. "It also complements our thrice weekly Manila-Batanes flights giving our passengers travel convenience to two premiere destinations in the country," Po added.
Late last year Asian Spirit started operating its regular Manila-Batanes flights. Since it began, the airline has consistently registered heavy bookings most of them tourists.
For the Laoag flights, the airline will be using either the 40-seater CN235 turbo-prop aircraft built by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia or 60-seater De Havilland Dash 7 from Canada.
"We will be operating three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. From Manila, the plane departs at 5 a.m. arriving Laoag at 6:20 a.m. The plane then proceeds to Basco, Batanes. From Laoag, the plane leaves at 10 a.m. and backs in Manila at 11:20 a.m. Asian Spirit has appointed William Po as the airline’s preferred wholesaler agent in Laoag.
"Opening this route is part of our commitment to serve the Northern Luzon region," Po said. "This should serve as a gateway not only for tourists trooping to Ilocos Norte, Batanes and nearby provinces, but for residents of the northern region to destinations that Asian Spirit services."
Presently, the airline flies to 18 destinations to and from Manila and Cebu. These include Bohol, Catanduanes, Boracay, Baguio, Batanes, Clark, Dipolog, Calbayog, Catarman, Cagayan de Oro, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Marinduque, Mindoro and Masbate.