DAVAO CITY — An exploratory business mission to North Sulawesi, Indonesia to assess the potential resumption of the Davao–Manado air connectivity was conducted on 4 January.

Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR), the aviation arm of ACDI Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) led the exploration flying via Leading Edge 70-seater ATR 72-500 plane. The mission aims to assess the current market conditions and opportunities for reinstating the said air route which was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

MinDA deputy executive director, Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, said that the mission is a timely and strategic shared action to revive the said route.

"Davao-Manado has always been viable air connectivity. We find this mission an opportune time to realize this project. Hopefully, this time it will have more interactions, exchanges, and mobility between Manado-Davao, and the larger Mindanao and North Sulawesi."

Manado Mayor Andrei Angouw said that key leaders and stakeholders of Davao–Manado including private sector players should develop a concrete and holistic approach to sustain the flight.

"We can explore many possibilities but must learn from our mistakes this time. Trade and connectivity must go hand in hand so that we can connect businesses and visit each other more frequently," he added.

A total of 33 passengers from various agencies and organizations joined the said mission.

Philippine Consulate General in Manado Lolita Capco welcomed the Philippine delegation and bared that the resumption of the Davao – Manado air link can serve as a gateway for more dynamic exchanges of ideas, interactions, and partnerships.

It can be noted that the route initially opened in May 2007 but was discontinued and revived on 27 September 2019, with the maiden flight via Garuda Indonesia Airlines, operating on Mondays and Fridays.

However, it also ceased operations during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The Davao–Manado air connectivity is part of the Mindanao – North Sulawesi gateways under the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan to link the Philippine archipelago to its ASEAN neighbors.

Davao City had a sisterhood agreement between Manado and Bitung since 1993, both in North Sulawesi.