PAL to offer flights to and from Iligan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL) will operate the Manila-Iligan and Cebu-Iligan routes next month through 76-seater planes under low-cost brand PAL Express. Iligan City Mayor Lawrence L. Cruz said last week PAL would again be active at the nearby Baloi Airport, with flights tentatively scheduled to start on Sept. 27. Domingo Duerme, PAL senior assistant vice-president for Mindanao sales, said the airline would fly up to four times a week from Iligan City to Manila. The Cebu-Iligan route will have three flights weekly. A 50-seater Bombardier Quiet (Q300) jet propeller will fly the Cebu-Iligan route, while a Q400 will operate in the Manila-Iligan route. At present, passengers going to Manila and Cebu have to come in this city first. Mindanao provinces and cities west of this city, including Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, make up a significant market not only for airline but also for shipping companies. Most ferries from Northern Mindanao, including this city’s port, going to Cebu and Manila pass by the port of Iligan to pick up passengers from northwestern provinces of Mindanao. Iligan City has been served for years by the Maria Cristina Airport, but PAL stopped flights of its less-efficient Fokker and Sunriser planes due to increasing costs and low passenger and cargo traffic. Iligan is among the most important ports of Mindanao, hosting at least a dozen large manufacturing plants. The city has a population close to 400,000 people. — Geefe P. Alba, BusinessWorld