By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Monday, Dec. 12, that it is all geared up for the opening of new international airports in Kalibo and Caticlan in Aklan, with Taiwan-bound flights set to open this month.
The inaugural flight from Caticlan to Taipei will take place on Dec.13, according to BI Commissioner Norman Tansiangco. TigerAir will also launch its Kalibo-Taipei-Kalibo flights on Dec. 29, with an initial plan to set four flights to Taipei every week.
Tansingco said he has already instructed the Bureau’s Port Operations Division (POD) to deploy sufficient personnel to the two airports to respond to the expected increased passenger volume.
“It will also mark the first time BI will launch its operations at the new Caticlan airport,” he said.
He said the BI is expecting a continued rise in international passenger volume next year when COVID-19 travel restrictions are further eased.
Acting BI-POD Chief Carlos Capulong said passenger arrivals are averaging 25,000 to 27,000 a day, an improvement from 5,000 daily passenger arrivals when the country reopened to foreign tourists last March. -ag
