Royal Air Charter Service (Philippines) (Angeles City Clark International) is planning to operate daily charter flights linking the ex-United States Navy base at Subic Bay with Macau International. According to the Philippine News Agency, the charter carrier is working with the Filipino Department of Tourism to bring in Chinese tourists to the Subic Bay special economic zone.
“Subic Bay is a special economic zone in the Philippines, which by law allows the entry of foreign nationals without the required visa for a maximum of 14 days. This is a good opportunity for Philippine tourism as Chinese nationals do not need to queue in our consular offices in China to secure the entry visa to the Philippines,” DOT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. said.
Royal Air currently operates a fleet of three ARJ-100s on scheduled charter services from both Cebu and Tuguegarao to Macau.
The Subic Bay International Airport is currently undergoing a PHP502 million peso (USD9.3 million) rehabilitation programme funded by the central government. According to a SunStar report, the investment includes better navigation equipment, new air passenger boarding bridges, and airport rescue and fire fighting vehicles.
Wilma Eisma, chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority hopes to attract China Eastern Airlines (MU, Shanghai Hongqiao) as a first international operator.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Air Juan Aviation (AO, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is currently the only scheduled operator at Subic Bay linking it with Manila Ninoy Aquino International 12x weekly using a fleet of Cessna (single turboprop) 208 Grand Caravans.
