Clark – Bagabag flights start
INTERNATIONAL travelers will now have an easier access to the rice terraces of the Cordilleras.
On May 17, the start of flights from Clark going to the Bagabag airport in Nueva Viscaya will cut travel time for jetsetters going to the majestic terraces to 45 minutes when they land.
Department of Tourism Cordillera regional director Venus Tan said
the flights were planned and crafted to push the international market closer to the region.
Tan said Europeans still make Banaue as a top choice for cultural immersion before hitting the beaches. “Cordillera is the most popular destination for cultural immersion and these flights bring the region much closer,” said Tan.
The flights are led by Wacay Travel, a local Batanes based business which has opened destinations in the country for both local and foreign markets.
Jerry Acebes Cabalce of Wakay Tours said the Dornier 328-100 turboprop aircraft will has a 30seater capacity flying regularly from Clark .
Cabalce said flights schedule from Clark to Bagabag is set in the morning as well as return flights from Bagabag to Clark.
Tourist wanting to stay at the Banaue Hotel will be offering a free shuttle from the Bagabag airport while those opting to stay in other hotel will pay a corresponding charge depending on the shuttle operator.
Tan said the move is strategically made to attract international travelers to choose the Cordillera as a destination seamlessly using the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).
The DOT official said connecting land travel will be ready for visitors from the airport to Banaue, a few hours away from Viscaya.
The activation of the Bagabag Airport in Nueva Vizcaya will bring the Mountain Province and Ifugao areas closer, making land trips to both spots easier.
Airports in the perimeters of the region contribute to the growing accessibility of the Cordilleras despite failed attempts to revive the Baguio Loakan airport.
The Clark airport in Angeles, Pampanga was designed to declog the NAIA and cater to Northern Luzon passengers accessing a host of budget airlines offering cheap flights. Maria Elena Catajan