Mandarin Airline maiden flight to Kalibo is an indication of a growing airport

Air Transportation Office (ATO) manager Alan Java said that the Mandarin Airline’s maiden flight to Kalibo Airport last Saturday is an indication that the airport is really growing.

Manager Java said that the Mandarin Airline, which is a subsidiary of Taiwan’s largest carrier the China Airlines, had 166 tourists on board from Taipei going to Boracay island during its maiden flight.

He said that the maiden flight of the Mandarin Airline, Boeing 737-800 flight AE7265, that left Taipei at 4:20 PM and arrived at Kalibo Airport at 6:40 PM hopefully could be regularized according to plan.

The Mandarin Airline intends to make twice-weekly flights from Taipei to Kalibo every Wednesday and Saturday.

If this will push through the Mandarin Airline will be the third international carrier that has regular flight to the Kalibo Airport, following the Asian Spirit that has daily direct flight from Inchon, South Korea starting last May 11, 2007 and Philippine Airlines starting last Oct. 2007 from Tudong, Shanghai, China.

Meanwhile, the China Eastern Airline from Shanghai, China is scheduled to have its maiden flight in Kalibo Airport this June 30 and so the Pacific Pearl in the coming days.

Manager Java said that because of this there is now an ongoing construction of the international cooperation terminal building at the Kalibo Airport that has been reclassified as the tenth international airport in the country by the Department of Transportation and Communication.

The international terminal building that reportedly has now an initial amount of P40 million released of the total P80 million will serve as the gateway of international tourists visiting the famous Boracay island in Aklan.

Aside from the construction of the international terminal building, there is also a plan by next year to lengthen the runway by another 400 meters from its presently 2,100 meters so it can meet the international standard set for airports.