The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced that it is intensifying its efforts to ensure that operations in the country's airports will be back to pre-pandemic levels as it restarted commercial and international flight operations at various CAAP-managed airports across the nation.

CAAP said that the Kalibo International Airport now serves direct flights to South Korea's Incheon Airport from Air Seoul and T'way Air and as of Thursday, the airport has also commenced its direct flights to Taipei with Tigerair.

Loakan Airport in Baguio City, on the other hand, also resumed commercial operations on 16 December with Philippine Airlines offering flights from Cebu just in time for the Christmas season. Eastern Samar's Borongan Airport also resumed its commercial flights on 19 December and is now catering to Philippine Airlines flights to Manila via Cebu.

Puerto Princesa International Airport in the island province of Palawan, meanwhile, has also commenced international direct flights to Taipei via Tigerair on 28 December. The Tigerair A320 aircraft arrived at full capacity in Puerto Princesa with 175 passengers and a crew of seven.

With these developments, CAAP is committed to ensuring the safety and efficiency of air travel in the Philippines which include maintenance, management and improvement of terminal operations, air navigation and air traffic control facilities.

"We are determined to make things better in the aviation sector," said Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo, director general of CAAP.