CLARK FREEPORT -- Spirit of Manila Airlines has started scheduled passenger services from Clark in the Philippines to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The new airline is the only Philippine carrier that provides service to this route using Boeing jets from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) to Bahrain International Airport.
"Direct flights from our gateway in Clark will allow residents of Central and Northern Luzon, as well as in Manila area, to take advantage of a whole host of new opportunities," said Basilio P. Reyes, president and CEO. "We launched the first flight to Bahrain on 18 December 2009 which marked a long awaited step in the right direction for Middle East service."
According to its website (www.spiritofmanilaairlines.com), the airline offers low fare and high quality service to connect to Bahrain International Airport, a premier gateway providing convenient service in the Middle East and key European destinations.
A symbolic ceremony for the inaugural flight was held on 18 December 2009 at Arrival Lounge of Bahrain International Airport. The event was attended by airline and airport officials; including Assistant Undersecretary for Aviation Affairs Ahmed Nemat A. Abdul Rahim of the Kingdom's Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA). In his welcome remark, Abdul Rahim conveyed the warm greetings of His Highness Sheikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain in launching Spirit of Manila Airlines' first flight from its gateway hub in Clark to Bahrain.
"This new service (of Spirit of Manila) will further strengthen the current air services agreement between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Philippines, and we are assuring them our full support for the success of their operations as this will bring in more traffic to both countries," says Abdul Rahim.
Spirit of Manila Airlines is putting an aggressive stand to fly from Clark to support the government's call to develop the Freeport Zone as an international gateway. Currently, the airline regularly flies to Macau, Taiwan and Bahrain. (PR)