La Union airport to resume domestic operations

MANILA, Philippines - The San Fernando Airport in La Union will resume domestic operations in April 14 following the completion of the first phase of the P500 million airport upgrading project, the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) said yesterday.

The San Fernando Airport is part of the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) being managed by the Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), a subsidiary of the BCDA.

BCDA President and CEO Narciso Abaya said the resumption of domestic operations in San Fernando Airport will further strengthen Poro Point in attracting more investments and tourists leading to more jobs generated for the people of La Union. “Increased investments and tourist spending will augur well for the economy of La Union,” Abaya said.

For his part, PPMC president Felix S. Racadio said the airport upgrade project included the hill removal and leveling, runway widening, overlay of taxiway, fencing, construction of a new control tower, renovation of fire station, and excavation of ditches and channels.

The resumption of domestic operations, passenger as well as cargo traffic are expected to further increase and boost the economy of La Union and its neighboring provinces.

For its inaugural flight on April 14, 2010, South East Asian Air (Seair) flight DG0205 will leave the Manila Domestic Airport at 11:40 p.m. and is expected to arrive at the San Fernando Airport at 12:40 p.m., officially signaling the resumption of domestic operations after the airport was closed last December 2007 to give way to the said airport upgrading.

The regular flights from Manila to San Fernando and back will be serviced by Seair every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Manila-San Fernando flight takes some 60 minutes. There are also 27 flying schools using the airport for their cross-country flights.

Likewise, Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels and Resorts Inc. (TPHRI) CEO Fabio Moretti said that the resumption of flights will bode well for the tourism industry in La Union, Baguio, Pangasinan and Ilocos. Of the P565 million allocated by the BCDA for the upgrade of the San Fernando Airport, TPHRI contributed P55 million.