Philippine Airlines lands first A330 in Bohol
PHILIPPINE Airlines’ wide-body aircraft arrival at Bohol-Panglao International Airport, welcomed with a water cannon salute, expands seat capacity into Bohol ahead of the year-end travel peak.
Photograph courtesy of Bohol-Panglao International Airport
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has introduced its Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft on the Manila-Bohol route, increasing passenger capacity at Bohol-Panglao International Airport ahead of the year-end travel peak.
The aircraft landed at the airport at 6:25 a.m. on 27 October, carrying 150 arriving passengers on flight PR1771. It received a water cannon salute, a traditional aviation welcome for milestone flights.
The aircraft later departed for Manila on flight PR1772 with 190 passengers, bringing the total number of travelers served during its first rotation to 340.
Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corporation (ABAC), the airport’s private operator, said PAL is the second airline to introduce wide-body aircraft service to Bohol.
The development followed upgrades to the airport’s firefighting and rescue capabilities, carried out by ABAC in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“Having both of the country’s major airlines fly wide-body aircraft into Bohol shows how far BPIA has come,” ABAC general manager Aldwin Uy said.
“Every additional seat into Bohol is an opportunity for our communities, from hotels and tour operators to the farmers, artisans and small enterprises that make the Bohol experience what it is.”
Bohol Governor Erico “Aris” Aumentado welcomed PAL’s move, saying the arrival reflected airlines’ confidence in the province’s tourism potential.