PAL revives Eastern Visayas flights

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will welcome the 76 passengers on the inaugural flight of PAL Express, the low-fare brand of Philippine Airlines, to Calbayog City in Samar Tuesday. PAL Regional Manager Glen Vallecera said PAL President Jaime Bautista would be in the maiden flight that will arrive at the Calbayog City airport at around 10:10 a.m. today. "The President will arrive in Calbayog City 10 minutes before the arrival of the maiden flight. She will lead in welcoming the passengers," Mr. Vallecera said. He said PAL Express would also inaugurate its Manila-Ormoc and Manila-Catarman flights on Aug. 1 and Aug. 15, respectively. The last time a PAL plane landed at the Ormoc City Airport was in 1998. The carrier ceased operations in Catarman, Northern Samar and in Calbayog in 1988. "We expect a reduction in the passenger traffic volume at the Tacloban Airport with these new flights, but we will come up with promotion strategies to attract passengers," he added. PAL Express will fly to Calbayog four times a week. Presently, only Asian Spirit is flying the Calbayog-Manila route and back three times a week. "The entrance of a new aviation player will accelerate economic activities and result in economic growth not only in Calbayog but in the entire Eastern Visayas region," Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said. Calbayog City is a first class city in the province of Samar. The city is composed of 157 villages and is the largest city in Eastern Visayas. Based on the 2007 census, it had a population of 163,657 people. PAL Express, launched in May, serves 30 routes across 21 destinations nationwide. — Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld