More developments in Kalibo international airport seen

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The new passenger terminal building at the Kalibo International Airport in Barangay Pook, Kalibo, Aklan / PHOTO BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Airport manager Engr. Percy Malonesio is optimistic of the development projects of Kalibo International Airport to cater to the increasing volume of regional flights and travellers.

Malonesio, who spoke at Kapihan sa Aklan forum, said the airport attracts more inbound tourists from regional destinations of China, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan owing to its proximity to the famous Island of Boracay.

The newly-built passenger terminal building, opened to the public last month, serves the domestic and regional daily flights, including routes to Incheon, South Korea and Shanghai, Pudong and Hangzou in China and Taipei and Taichung, Taoyuan in Taiwan.

The direct and chartered flights between regional destinations on Taiwan, mainland cities in China and Kalibo International Airport are operated by Chinese and Taiwanese airlines of China Southern Airlines, Mandarin China Airlines and the local Philippine Airlines, Zest Air and Spirit of Manila Airlines.

Kalibo International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country next to Davao, Cebu and Manila with more than 645,000 passengers and 4,706 aircraft movements last year.

Malonesio said the local contractor has yet to turn over the new passenger terminal building to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which is responsible for the operations of the Kalibo airport.

"Due to public demand, CAAP opened the passenger terminal to service international and domestic travellers," he said during the weekly forum organized by the Aklan Media Forum, Aklan Press Club and the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc.

The P50-million airport terminal was completed last March, part of the P665-million Kalibo Airport Development Project of the national government. Ongoing projects are the extension of runway, construction of access road, extension of apron, construction of drainage canal, rehabilitation and repair of old terminal Building, construction of elevated roadway and vehicular parking area.