Jakarta-based airline makes maiden flight to Davao

Potential trade and tourism between Manado, Indonesia and Davao, Philippines got a major boost with the direct flight services of a Jakarta-based airline. Wings Air, a subsidiary of Jakarta-based Lion Air, made its maiden flight to Davao from Manado on June 7 with an ATR-72-500 aircraft that can carry 70 passengers. "The significance of resuming Manado direct flights to Davao City with a short distance of 630 kilometers is to harness the great potential of the two neighboring regions in terms of tourism, business, and social and cultural activities," the Department of Foreign Affairs said early last week. It said the maiden 80-minute flight that landed at the Davao International Airport came a month after Mid-Sea Express Air's suspension of flights from Davao to Manado. Without the direct flight, travelers in Manado had to take the long route to the Philippines either via Singapore or Jakarta. Such flights would involve double the price and travel time, the DFA said. Passengers in the maiden flight included Polomolok, South Cotabato Mayor Isidro Lumayag and 50 Filipino fishermen repatriates, businessmen and foreign tourists. Welcoming Wings Air were Indonesian Consul General to Davao City Eko Hartono, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region X Director Art Boncato, Vice Consul Ricarte Abejuela's wife Mercibelle, Philippine Consul General to Manado Jose Burgos' wife Blesilda, and other Indonesian Consulate officials. The flight made a 90-minute stop in Davao before returning to Manado on the same day. Passengers on the return flight to Manado included 40 members of the Bukidnon State University (BSU) Choir. The next flight to Davao was scheduled June 16 while the inaugural flight will be on July 3 followed by an initially once-a-week flight every Tuesday. — LBG, GMA News