PHILIPPINE budget airline, Royal Air Philippines, is set to launch a regular direct flight from Davao to Hong Kong this Friday, August 4, 2023, as announced by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) Secretary Maria Belen Acosta during a press conference held on Monday, July 31 at SM City Davao.
Acosta revealed that Royal Air will officially announce the Davao-Hong Kong direct flight this week.
However, the frequency of the flights is yet to be determined.
“There is also one airline company, Royal Air, that will be having a Davao-Hongkong direct flight, and they will be formally announcing it this week... this coming Friday here in Davao,” Acosta said.
This marks the first time a Philippine airline will offer a direct flight to Hong Kong, a route that Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific previously serviced.
She said the upcoming direct flight would benefit both countries, benefiting Davao City.
MinDa and other local business chambers are discussing establishing direct flights from Mindanao to Malaysia, with Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Airlines being considered. There are also talks about adding more inter-Mindanao local direct flights through Philippine Airlines.
When asked about the significance of adding flights to and from Mindanao, Acosta replied, “Unang una, it will provide connectivity access, pangalawa ma-dedecongest yung Manila, pangatlo, hindi na masyadong magastos for Mindanawons kasi magastos yung fare papuntang Davao to Manila (First, it will enhance connectivity access. Second, it will decongest Manila of passengers. Third, it will be more cost-effective to Mindanawons, as the current fare from Davao to Manila is expensive)."
Currently, the only international route serving Davao is Singapore-Davao-Singapore, operated by Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and Cebu Pacific. Before the pandemic, Davao had other international air linkages, including Hong Kong, served by Cathay Dragon; Jinjiang, China, operated by Xiamen Airways; and Manado, Indonesia, via Garuda Indonesia.