WITH the influx of plane travelers who want a more convenient route, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is set to request Philippine Airlines (PAL) to restore its direct flight service between Honolulu and Laoag. Sponsored by the whole membership of the provincial board standing as a committee of the whole, draft provincial resolution no. 2007-06-225 particularly requests PAL President Jaime J. Bautista to consider the resumption of its “Ilocos Express”, which catered mostly to Ilocano passengers coming home to the Ilocos region in the past. SP member Purisima A. Bueno presented the resolution on the SP Session Hall floor on June 4 as she cited that based on records of tourist arrivals in the province, about 40 percent of airline passengers are senior citizens. According to Bueno, these senior citizens are usually accompanied by their children since they could not travel by themselves due to the longer travel time and connecting flights to Laoag City. These connecting flights, Bueno continued, are taking too much burden on passengers from the delays while they wait at airports and their expenses are being doubled compared to expenses when they can have direct flight services. Plane transfers also causes delay in the delivery of passengers’ luggage, making it more inconvenient especially for senior citizens. With the influx of balikbayans and tourists coming to the province on an all-year round basis, provincial officials expressed confidence that PAL would take advantage of the air traffic possibilities. Meanwhile, The Ilocos Times learned that PAL is likewise open to re-opening its “Ilocos Express” flight as the airline company is already preparing their 737 aircraft to service the Hawaii-Laoag route at least once a week. The service to the main airport in the Ilocos Region—the Laoag International Airport (LIA)—recognizes the strong connection of Hawaii’s Filipino population, consisting of an estimated 80 percent from Northern Luzon. The direct flight service eliminates the need for Ilocos-bound travelers to land first in Manila, possibly stay overnight before they can take a connecting flight to Laoag. An alternative to a connecting flight is a 10-hour bus ride. In 1994 PAL inaugurated its Honolulu-Laoag flight using Boeing 747 aircrafts. The flight however has a stop in Manila wherein a Boeing 737 plane was used for the Manila-Laoag leg. Leilanie G. Adriano
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