Cebu Pacific resumes regular flights to and from Surigao

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air announced on Monday that it has resumed regular flights to and from Surigao City, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Cebgo, after successful repairs of the runway of Surigao Airport.

CEB said Cebgo started commercial operations in Surigao on March 11, or almost a month after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the city last February 10.

CEB Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. JR Mantaring lauded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for the swift repair of the partially damaged 1,700-meter runway.

“After assessing the repairs done on the Surigao Airport runway, we have determined that we may resume safe flight operations. We laud CAAP for its expedient action to restore the runway after just 12 days of repair," Mantaring said in a press statement.

"We are very pleased to once again be of service to everyJuan in the City of Island Adventures,” he added.

Mantaring also expressed his appreciation for the carrier's patrons.

“We would also like to extend our appreciation to our valued passengers for their utmost understanding. Trust that we will continue working with the relevant authorities in order to hasten full restoration, and further improve our services,” he said.

Since CAAP suspended operations in Surigao Airport, passengers were forced to fly in from Butuan City and then travel by land for about three hours to Surigao.

Cebgo operates two daily flights to Surigao via Cebu. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KG, GMA News