SKYJET Airlines is launching new scheduled flights from Manila to Kalibo and Baler on August 15 and 17 respectively.
Skyjet’s three-times weekly, 45-minute flights will land in Kalibo, Boracay, instead of Caticlan, as previously planned.
On the other hand, the 20-minute flight to Baler in Aurora province, east Central Luzon, operates three times weekly, and is a ground-breaking commercial route previously only served by charters.
Interest in Baler has increased because of improved roads, rising popularity as a surfing destination and the recent opening of upscale 106-room resort Costa Pacifica at Sabang Beach.
“Costa Pacifica is starting to attract more tourists, but there are no flights there,” said Dino Reyes-Chua, Skyjet president.
“Our mission is to serve the unserved, discover the undiscovered,” he added, singling out the carrier’s routes to the remote islands of Batanes (currently also served by PAL Express) – its flagship route – and Busuanga in Coron, both flying three times weekly.
Skyjet has also disclosed plans to launch commercial flights to Naga, replacing a previous route to Virac, Catanduanes; Vigan, a finalist in the New7Wonders Cities of the Worldcampaign; and Siargao, another surfing destination in northern Mindanao.
Meanwhile, three-times weekly Taipei-Kalibo charters are in the works, as well as a brand new Boracay-Coron charter.
“The problem for South Korea, China, and other European markets is it would be tiring for them to fly from Coron to Manila, and from Manila again to Boracay,” said Reyes-Chua.
Skyjet has also taken note of growing interest in the Boracay-Coron route from a traveller exit survey conducted by the Coron municipality.
Coron flights during the peak season starting September or October might increase to a daily frequency, Reyes-Chua added.
