Surigao City welcomes PAL Express service

SURIGAO CITY, Philippines — Government officials and business leaders welcomed Philippine Airlines’ decision to expand its PAL Express service to this city. Last week, the airline started flying daily to and from Manila using a 76-seater Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft. "We would like to express our gratitude to PAL for answering our call to put up direct flights from Manila to Surigao [and back], and hopefully Surigao-Cebu," said Mayor Alfonso Casurra during ceremonies here. Surigao City is a key Mindanao destination for domestic and foreign tourists, especially those who are into surfing. The city links the island to the Visayas through the old Pan-Philippine Highway. The city used to have daily flights by Asian Spirit, but the service was terminated early this year. — Maryann A. Zamora, BusinessWorld