MANILA — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will start offering flights to and from San Vicente, Palawan on Oct. 30, its spokesperson announced on Friday.
“PAL is the first commercial airline to launch services to San Vicente. This will be a milestone service,” Cielo Villaluna told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
San Vicente Airport (SVA) officially opened for commercial flights last May. Previously, the airport only catered to light aircraft, as well as Air Juan’s chartered flights.
Villaluna said PAL has considered having the San Vicente route since the SVA is envisioned to be a gateway to El Nido, which is two hours away from the airport.
Days after the SVA’s inauguration last May, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesperson Eric Apolonio said San Vicente could be an alternative destination to Boracay.
The SVA would serve as the alternative destination’s main gateway, he added.
PAL’s weekly flights are scheduled every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Villaluna said daily flights will be offered starting December 18. The airline will initially offer services between San Vicente and Clark.
“There’s no plan to have a Manila-San Vicente route at the moment. The priority is to build passenger traffic between Clark and San Vicente,” Villaluna said. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
