Maiden flight of Baguio-Cebu route lands at Summer Capital’s only airport

By: Vincent Cabreza - 1 year ago

More than a week before commercial flights resume at the city’s only airport on Dec. 16, Ibaloys gathered at their avong (communal house) in Burnham Park on Tuesday as they prepared for the possible changes to their routines.

FILE PHOTO The Loakan Airport in Baguio City starts commercial flights to Cebu on Dec. 16 after sitting idle for years. NEIL CLARK ONGCHANGCO

BAGUIO CITY — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama flew in the maiden flight of the flag carrier Philippine Airlines’ Baguio-Cebu route at past 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, reviving the city’s only airport, which had been idle for decades.

The Turboprop plane bearing tail number RP-C5903 descended without a hitch, and was welcomed by dancers of Loakan community.

PAL had been flying passengers to Baguio since 1941, before World War II but ceased operations in the late 1990s. A PAL official said this flight from a Manila airfield started Philippine commercial aviation.

The Cebu route is the airline’s return to the mountain city. INQ

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