Thursday, November 15, 2007 PAL mulls opening of Davao-HK flights By Joy Romares-Sevilla
PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) senior assistant vice president for Mindanao Domingo Duerme said Wednesday that flag carrier is also looking at the possibility of opening direct international service to Hong Kong from Davao.
This developed after Cebu Pacific announced Monday its decision to expand operations in Davao by making it the third hub after Manila and Cebu by May next year.
"As far as tourism is concerned, the more flights we have, the more we can draw tourists to visit Davao City," Duerme said in Wednesday's edition of the Club 888 press forum, adding the announcement of the Cebu Pacific is a very welcome development in the city.
Duerme said that aside from the Davao-Hong Kong route, which PAL is closely considering for tourism development, two more destinations in China will be proposed by PAL.
"Aside from the one more flight from Davao to Manila that PAL will open this December, two more destinations in China are still on the study stage," Duerme said.
Duerme, on the other hand, failed to mention as to when the service flights from Davao City to China will be made available.
Meanwhile, Mary Ann Montemayor, chair of the Bimp-Eaga Tourism Council and one of the guests at the same forum, lauded the announcement of the Cebu Pacific to service direct flights from Davao City to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Iloilo.
"Bimp-Eaga Tourism Council has been encouraging airlines to service air routes, this is a very laudable move," she said.
Montemayor recently returned from Kuching in Malaysia where the 3rd Bimp-Eaga Travel Exchange was held.
"The Kuching airport is very nice, but Davao International Airport is not left behind," she concluded.
