Laoag International Airport. (File photo)
LAOAG CITY – As Ilocos Norte aggressively promotes its tourism industry, Gov. Matthew Joseph Manotoc on Friday bared plans to resume talks with budget airlines Cebu Pacific and Air Asia about opening direct flights between Cebu and Laoag.
Manotoc said both airline companies have expressed interest to introduced new routes to and from Laoag but are just waiting for the right time.
“I believe that Cebu to Laoag [flights] and vice versa is a strong route because it connects Central and Southern Philippines to Ilocos region,” said Manotoc citing the low-cost airline Cebu Pacific as the most ideal considering that its hub is located in Cebu.
In 2011, both the Ilocos Norte and Cebu governments signed a pact for sister-province ties as they bid to promote more opportunities in economic investment, tourism, agriculture as well as the passion for culture and heritage, among other things.
The first step to maximize the sisterhood agreement is to open direct flights from Cebu to Laoag and vice versa.
Currently, travelers coming from Cebu have to fly either to Manila or Clark in Pampanga first before reaching Ilocos Norte.
With the continuous upgrading of the Laoag International Airport to accommodate bigger aircraft, the governor said he is also looking forward to the possibility of opening international flights to Kaohsiung, Taiwan due to its proximity to Laoag City. (PNA)
