Mayor Jerry Treñas will request additional flights to and from Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town to cut the cost of plane tickets. "The airplane fares have become very expensive. We need more flights to and from Iloilo City to lower the plane fares and make them more affordable for everyone," said Treñas on Wednesday, adding the letter is being finalized. He will also lobby anew in his letter for the resumption of the Iloilo to Hong Kong and Iloilo to Singapore flights in response to requests of Ilonggos working in these areas. "It's a welcome move. The move of the mayor is good for us, good for the economy, good for the airport," said Iloilo Terminal Supervisor Art Parreño in a separate interview. The airport currently serves Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia, Parreño said for the month of June there were 19 daily flights and 20 scheduled flights on different days of the week in various destinations. He added that despite the airport being busy, it will still be able to accommodate more flights. However, he said the increase in frequency would mean additional personnel and utilities. "We are open to the increase in flights but CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) does not decide, it's the airline's decision," he said. The Iloilo airport serves daily flights to Manila and Cebu and scheduled flights for General Santos, Davao and Clark. Starting this month, there will be additional scheduled flights going to Palawan and Cagayan de Oro.
Source: Philippines News Agency