ILOCOS NORTE: The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte has agreed to subsidize up to 20 seats per flight on the Philippine Airlines' (PAL) direct route from Laoag to Cebu, in a bid to boost tourism. The partnership is set to begin on December 15, 2023, with flights operating on a bi-weekly basis.
According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, a unanimous decision was made on Monday to authorize the governor to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PAL for a joint marketing partnership. Provincial tourism officer-in-charge Xavier Ruiz revealed that the provincial government would be paying a 'hard block price' equivalent to 20 seats per flight, should they fail to sell the reserved tickets.
Data from the provincial government indicates that nearly three million visitors were welcomed in 2022, significantly higher than the 800,000 in the previous year, with tourism receipts reaching an estimated PHP8.8 billion. Ruiz stated that the new flight route aims to increase trade and transport connectivity, especially benefiting not only Ilocos Norte but also its neighboring provinces of Ilocos Sur, Abra, Cagayan, and Apayao. PAL plans to operate the flights using an 86-seater De Havilland Dash 8-400 Next Generation aircraft, with services scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays.