Marcos hometown wants more flights

MANILA, Philippines — The bailiwick of the Marcos family wants other airlines to follow Cebu Pacific’s lead in opening flights to Laoag International Airport to support the recovery of Ilocos Norte’s tourism.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc is requesting airlines to launch flights to Laoag to strengthen connectivity to and from northern Luzon.

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific yesterday relaunched its Manila-Laoag flights as part of efforts to broaden its network of domestic flights.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cebu Pacific back to our province as this signals a renewed hope for our tourism industry. Further, we hope that more airlines will follow suit, as we continue to work together to revitalize our economy and bring back the vibrancy of Ilocos Norte’s tourism sector,” Manotoc said.

For 2023, the government will spend P2.49 billion for the expansion and upgrade of five airports.

The Laoag International Airport is listed as one of the gateways set for rehabilitation, enhancing its capacity in facilitating and handling additional aircraft.

Laoag serves as a jump-off point for travelers heading to tourist hotspots such Pagudpud, Paoay and Vigan.

It offers a number of leisure activities such as sandboarding at the La Paz Sand Dunes.

The Manila to Laoag flight takes just a little over an hour compared to a minimum of nine hours when traveling by bus.

For Cebu Pacific, Laoag marks the 35th destination in its local network as it widens its reach to serve the recovering demand for air travel in the pandemic aftermath.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao said the new route also benefits travelers from the north of Luzon.

Upon landing in Manila, guests can fly to any of Cebu Pacific’s 29 domestic destinations and 23 foreign routes from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“We are excited to fly again to Laoag as we continue to grow our domestic network and provide accessible and affordable air travel to every Juan. The relaunch of this route will also strengthen Laoag’s position as a leading tourism and cultural hub in north Luzon,” Lao said.

Cebu Pacific flies from Manila to Laoag and vice versa every day using a 188-seater Airbus A320.

For 2023, the Gokongwei-owned airline expects to breach its pre-pandemic capacity by offering seat sales, expanding its local network and returning to international destinations. – Rudy Santos