Tacloban upbeat on new flight service to Davao

 TACLOBAN CITY, June 7 -- Tourism stakeholders here are all excited with plan of Cebu Pacific (CEB) to have Davao-Tacloban as a new route to its inter-regional network. 

The new route will start on July 26, using its brand new ATR-72-600 aircraft and will also begin flying four times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). 

Rhoel Ladera of Aqua Momentum Company, a tour operator, said he and his businesses partners are all excited for this additional route. 

“Imagine the advantages of having more tourists from the Southern Mindanao that can visit our tourist sites like Kalanggaman, Cuatro Islas, Sohoton Cave, Tacloban City and other destinations. There will be less hassles of travelling because of this direct flight,” Ladera said. 

CEB offers its lowest all-in one way year-round fare from Davao to Tacloban at PHP2,142. It also offers lowest rates to other new inter-regional routes from Cebu to Masbate at PHP1,758; Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga at PHP1,906 and Davao to Dumaguete City at PHP2,590. 

Tourism Regional Director Karen Rosa Tiopes believed the industry is lucrative for Cebu Pacific to add its new route from Tacloban to Davao. 

“Linking Eastern Visayas to Davao and the rest of Mindanao would open doors in the industry and provides more job opportunities,” Tiopes added. 

CEB in its announcement said the new routes stem from stakeholders, particularly in Mindanao, to improve connectivity of key cities connecting more islands from Mindanao to the rest of the archipelago. (Vicky C. Arnaiz/PNA)