A test flight of flag-carrier Philippine Airlines has successfully landed at the Loakan Airport in Baguio City — weeks before the airline commences its Cebu-Baguio route.
"This flight is proof that it's all systems go for the official opening of PAL's Cebu — Baguio route on December 16," PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said in a social media post.
"This successful test flight is the culmination of months of preparation among all industry stakeholders to make the return to Baguio by the flag carrier a reality," she added.
4 flight for start
Villaluna said PAL management tapped the Department of Transportation, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the local government of Baguio for the test flight.
Test Flight PR 6230 departed Manila at 10:39 a.m. and touched down at Loakan Airport at 11:30 a.m..
Starting with four flights per week, the pioneer PAL service links the City of Pines with the commercial heart of the Visayas region for the first time.
"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."
Starting 16 December, PAL will operate four weekly Cebu-Baguio-Cebu flights with convenient morning departures:
• PR 2230 Cebu-Baguio — every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday departing Mactan Cebu at 08:50 a.m., arriving at Baguio Loakan Airport at 10:50 a.m.; and
• PR 2231 Baguio-Cebu — every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday departing Baguio at 11:10 a.m., arriving in Cebu at 01:00 PM.
Located in northern Luzon, Baguio is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" for its year-round cool climate and breathtaking mountain location 1,400 meters above sea level.
