AIRLINES TO HURT FROM BORACAY CLOSURE

Domestic airlines are expected to take a hit should the Duterte administration proceed with a proposed six-month closure of Boracay to rehabilitate the resort island.

Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific Air and Philippines AirAsia, the country’s three major carriers, mount hundreds of weekly flights to Boracay, one of the Philippines’ most iconic beach destinations.

The bulk of these flights would have to be canceled and thousands of passengers would need to rebook or refund their tickets if President Duterte gives the go signal for closure starting April 26 at the heart of the summer season.

Boracay is accessible by air through two gateways: Kalibo International Airport and Caticlan Airport. Around 60 percent of passengers fly to these airports to reach Boracay Island, said Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna on Friday said they mount over 90 flights per week to either Kalibo or Caticlan.

180 flights weekly

Cebu Pacific operates more than 180 flights weekly to the two aiports, according to Charo Logarta Lagamon, the airline’s communications director.

Jenny Bugarin-Tan, Philippines AirAsia communications manager, said the budget airline operated almost 100 flights per week to Boracay.

Villaluna noted that PAL’s Boracay flights, typically 90percent occupied during the summer months, served over 12,400 passengers per week, including travelers flying directly from South Korea and China.

The number of affected passengers could balloon to the hundreds of thousands over a six-month period.

Villaluna said PAL would maintain certain operations to Kalibo and Caticlan, even if the closure pushes through, to serve residents and businesses in the rest of Aklan province.

“We will be ready to assist passengers in rebooking, refunding and rerouting their flights in such a scenario,” Villaluna said on Friday.

In case of canceled flights, Cebu Pacific would offer full refunds or transfer to other destinations where seats are available, Lagamon said.

The three carriers could also increase flights to alternative destinations around the country, depending on Mr. Duterte’s decision.

Arcilla said in an interview on Friday that he planned to invite airline industry executives to a meeting after the Holy Week to iron out details concerning passenger convenience and protection.