1st Int'l Flight in WV landed in Kalibo Airport

Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre
Kalibo, Aklan- The first international flight had landed in Kalibo Airport after the successful landing of the Asian Spirit flight direct service from Incheon, South Korea-Kalibo Friday morning.

The flight carrier uses its McDonnel-Douglas carrier a 127- seater plane carries 60 Korean passengers and traveled four hours from its point of destination reaching this town considered a gateway to Boracay Island.

Allan Abat, regional director of the Air Transportation Office during the inaugural ceremony said that Kalibo is fortunate to have secured the first flight despite the undergoing preparation of two more airports of international standards in Western Visayas.

“The government had poured more funds for Iloilo Airport in Sta. Barbarra, Iloilo and Silay City in Negros Occidental but the Kalibo Airport has successfully made it to receive the first direct flights from South Korea. Nevertheless, both airports will be operational before this year ends which we expect to spur the economic capability of the region,” Abat said.

Abat said, the successful landing of the Asian Spirit came after the Night Landing Facilities were installed in the Kalibo Airport last month and the papers required for its operation have been met.

Regional Director for Tourism Edwin Trompeta said the inaugural flight would open for the possibility of an increase of 20 percent Korean tourists this year.

Based on the records of the DoT, show that the number of foreign and domestic tourists in Boracay climbed to 556,084 in 2006 from 499,457 in 2005. Foreign tourists, representing a third of the total, increased 18 percent to 183,835 from 155,744. Korean tourists, representing two-thirds of total international visitors in the island, numbered 124,618 last year.

Joseph Cacho, ground manager of the Asian Spirit in Manila said that the carrier would fly Incheon,Korea-Kalibo twice a week Tuesday and Friday.

“From Incheon, Korea it would fly directly to Kalibo. In its return back to Korea, it will have interconnecting flights to Subic first before going back to Incheon,” he said.

Cacho said, the airline also carries a Ukrainian Pilot and several European and Korean stewardees.

Former representative Allen Quimpo, (not running for a political post) who chairs the preparation committee of the Kalibo Airport said that after the successful Asian Spirit flight he expects that other airline carriers will follow through.

“We already have negotiations with the Philippine Airlines to hold its direct flights also from Incheon, South Korea and that will be soon. Other international aircraft carriers such as Oceania airline also have negotiations with the Aklan provincial Government for them to have direct flights in the near future,” he said.

When asked why Incheon, South Korea Quimpo said that Incehon Airport carries the biggest number of international flight in South Korea.

After the successful airline flight, the provincial government’s next plan is to set the Kalibo Airport the venue for international gateway in the Western Visayas region.