The launch of its inaugural flight, 5J 242, at 11 p.m. on October 27, marked the official opening of Cebu Pacific Air's international route from Iloilo International Airport to Hong Kong.
With over 100 people on board, the flight represents the revival of the Iloilo-to-Hong Kong route.
Flight schedule
Flights traversing the Iloilo-Hong Kong route, depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Return flights from Hong Kong are set on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Mondays.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, daily flights to and fro Singapore and Hong Kong were operated out of Iloilo Airport.
According to Arthur Parreño, terminal supervisor for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Iloilo, the airport is prepared to handle the increased passenger traffic, pointing out that the air conditioners have been fixed and more chairs have been added.
In November, it will also start flying directly to Singapore again.
Iloilo airport’s preparedness
The Iloilo Airport is located in Cabatuan, Iloilo, on 188 hectares of property that includes the barangays of Tabucan, Tiring, Gaub, Duyan-Duyan, and Manguna.
A single runway, a number of maintenance and administrative buildings, facilities for sorting garbage and treating water, a power plant, a cargo terminal, and the main passenger terminal make up the airport complex.
Three airline companies operate out of the Iloilo Airport, which sees between 30 and 32 domestic flights every day on average to locations such as Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Clark, Davao, General Santos, Manila, and Puerto Princesa.
