Domestic airline Air Juan Aviation Inc. on Wednesday conducted a test flight of its seaplane which flew from Tagbilaran City to the Candijay Tourism Port in a 15-minute trip.
Provincial Board Member Kristine Alexie Tutor who joined the test flight said on Friday that the airline will formally launch its regular trips in November.
The C-193 seaplane which can fit nine passengers will travel to Panas, Candijay from Mactan Airport, and vice versa, three times a week, said Tutor.
The flight was designed for tourists who want to take a scenic route to the province from Cebu which allows an aerial glimpse at Anda’s shoreline and other eco-tourism spots in eastern Bohol including Candijay.
Local officials have expressed optimism that the new flight route will raise tourist influx in Candijay and neighboring municipalities in the third district.
According to Tutor, the rehabilitation of the provincial road from Badian, Anda to Panas, Candijay has been started partly in anticipation of the flights.
Several other new flights from Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cabu Pacific are also expected to start before yearend.
Cebu Pacific earlier announced the launching of direct flights from Tagbilaran City to Davao City and vice versa through the airline’s wholly owned subsidiary Cebgo.
READ: CebuPac Tag-Davao flight launch announced; PAL Tag-Clark by yearend
The new route will open on October 21, 2017 and will provide four two-way flights a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Meanwhile, PAL Visayas Sales and Services area head Reyani Romano said that starting November 1, PAL will fly four times a week from Tagbilaran to Davao, and vice versa, using a newly-acquired 86-seater bi-class aircraft.
The national flag carrier will also be launching daily flights from Tagbilaran City to Clark, Pampanga, and vice versa, on December 16 using an Airbus A320, Romano said in a letter to Governor Edgar Chatto. (R. Tutas)