Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has agreed to continue operating reduced frequencies this winter season to airports serving the island of Boracay, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told GMA News.
Boracay is set to reopen to tourism on October 26, following a six-month closure for environmental cleanup.
The secretary has also been in touch with Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) and Philippines AirAsia (Z2, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) to discuss the matter. The government hopes to limit the number of tourists staying on Boracay to a maximum of 19125 at any given time.
The popular island was closed on April 26, 2018, to all non-residents due to environmental damage caused by overtourism. Subsequently, most of the airlines suspended or significantly cut capacity to Kalibo and Caticlan on the neighbouring island of Panay because of a lack of tourism demand. Boracay itself does not have an airport.
At present, Kalibo is served 11x weekly by PAL subsidiary PAL Express, 9x weekly by Philippines AirAsia, and daily by Cebu, all from Manila Ninoy Aquino International using A320 family aircraft. Air Seoul (RS, Seoul Incheon) currently operates daily between Incheon and Kalibo with an A321-200.
Air Juan Aviation (AO, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is currently operating three times weekly from Busuanga to Caticlan with Cessna (single turboprop) 208 Grand Caravans. Philippines AirAsia operates a daily A320-200 from Manila while Skyjet Airlines (MSJ, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) also operates on the route daily with a BAe 146-100.
