Iloilo airport ready to accept intl flights –CAAP

ILOILO CITY – The New Iloilo Airport is now ready to accept international flights, according to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) area manager Efren Nagrama.
Nagrama said that except for some minute works such as putting up of counters and tables for the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation and the Quarantine, the Iloilo airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns is almost ready to accommodate international flights.

He confirmed that the Cebu Pacific airline company is already intending to start its direct international flight from Hong Kong and Singapore to Iloilo by October or November this year.
The CAAP official said the airport could now accommodate Airbus 330 which could carry around 300 passengers.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. and Sen. Franklin M. Drilon are working together so that the Iloilo airport could finally accommodate international flights soon.
The duo were also instrumental in the relocation and upgrade of the airport from its old site in Mandurriao, Iloilo City to the new location in Sta. Barabara-Cabatuan towns which opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007.
Nagrama said opening international flights would really have a big impact on the local economy and tourism as more foreign students from Hong Kong and Singapore could be invited to study in the prestigious universities here.
Overseas Filipino workers and tourists could also avail of direct flights to Iloilo without passing by Metro Manila or Cebu City.