By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — Local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB), and Air Asia have announced they will start flight operations at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 28.
The country’s first eco-airport was inaugurated Tuesday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the airport features green and sustainable structures, solar panels, motion sensor lighting, and such, at a total cost of PHP8.9 billion.
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio earlier told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the new airport will replace the Tagbilaran Airport, which has limited capacity for expansion, and also due to operational safety concerns.
He added that the project also aims to address the growing number of tourists in Bohol.
All flights to and from Bohol will be at the Bohol-Panglao International Airport starting Nov. 28, noted PAL in its advisory.
The flag carrier, however, announced that its ticket office at the Tagbilaran Airport will remain open until Dec. 15 to serve the passengers during the transition phase.
AirAsia, for its part, will provide shuttles to ferry their passengers, who would go to Tagbilaran Airport.
“Most of the passengers do not know that their flights that are supposedly from the Tagbilaran Airport will now be from Panglao. We have just received the NOTAM (notice to airmen) now,” AirAsia Philippines corporate communications manager Genefer Tan told the PNA on Tuesday.
CEB, meanwhile, announced that it will be the first commercial flight to land at the new airport on Wednesday.
