Philippine Airlines (PAL) will launch a new route between Cebu and Baguio City on December 16, 2022.
For the first time, the pioneer PAL service connects the City of Pines with the commercial heart of the Visayas region, beginning with four flights per week.
“This will be PAL’s comeback to the very first destination we served nearly 82 years ago, so we are happy to be flying back to where it all started,” said PAL President and COO Capt. Stanley K. Ng. “At the same time, we’re inaugurating a brand-new service, linking two progressive tourist and business destinations – the Queen City of the South and the City of Pines.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) sees the move as an introduction to the international market for Baguio, noting that Cebu serves as an international gateway.
“We at the DOT will continually push for the opening of new local and domestic routes to cater to more tourists in line with our vision to improve connectivity into and around the country. PAL’s new Cebu-Baguio route will certainly provide new opportunities that would propel closer interaction between two of the most prominent tourism destinations in the country. We are excited to showcase the new tourism products and circuits in the Cordilleras – from creative crawls in Baguio to farm and gastronomic experiential tours, crafts and arts shopping, not to mention a glimpse of its diverse culture; this new route will undoubtedly increase arrivals and spur economic activities to the Cordilleras and create demand for investment and employment for our fellow Filipinos,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
Cebu – Baguio timetable
PAL will begin operating four weekly Cebu-Baguio-Cebu flights with convenient morning departures beginning December 16:
- PR 2230 Cebu-Baguio – every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing Mactan Cebu at 08:50 AM, arriving at Baguio Loakan Airport at 10:50 AM
- PR 2231 Baguio-Cebu – every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing Baguio at 11:10 AM, arriving in Cebu at 01:00 PM
The Cebu-Baguio flights will be operated by De Havilland Dash 8 Series 400 Next Generation aircraft, a high-performance turboprop with jet-like comfort in a quieter cabin.
On March 15, 1941, PAL’s first flight as a newly formed airline was a Manila-Baguio service from Manila’s Neilson Airport. The PAL Beechcraft Model 18 flew five passengers from Manila to Baguio City, ushering in the aviation era for the Philippines and Asia.
Direct air link between the Visayas region and Baguio
Baguio, located in northern Luzon, is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” due to its year-round cool climate and breathtaking mountain setting 1,400 meters above sea level.
Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, Baguio Cathedral, and Mines View Park, among many others, are popular tourist destinations in Baguio City, as is the Baguio City Economic Zone, which is home to major multinational firms in the electronics, technology, BPO, and clothing industries.
“Our direct flight will enable passengers in the central Visayas to enjoy a two-hour journey to Northern Luzon and vice versa, without the hassle of booking multiple connecting trips via both land and air,” said PAL express Officer-In-Charge Mr. Rabbi Ang. “We also see this new service as an opportunity to further boost domestic tourism, as Filipinos plan their holiday getaways for the Christmas peak season and for 2023. We assure all travelers that strict safety and health protocols will be observed on all our flights.”
“We laud the Department of Transportation, under the leadership of Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and CAAP Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo, for upgrading Loakan Airport to enable safe and reliable airline services to and from Baguio City,” said Captain Ng. “We will work with the aviation authorities, the local governments and the travel community to make our Cebu-Baguio flights a success.”
PAL’s Cebu-Baguio route is the latest addition to the flag carrier’s Cebu hub, a network of domestic flights connecting Cebu to various cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. PAL also operates between Cebu and Tokyo Narita.
Passengers are encouraged to check the website of their arrival point for the latest travel requirements and other important information. The PAL website is also available at www.philippineairlines.com.
Attribution: Philippine Airlines official media release
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