Younger millennials and Zoomers may not remember a time when Baguio City, once known as the Philippines’ summer capital, had regular commercial flights arriving and departing at its Loakan Airport, which sustained damage from the 1990 Luzon earthquake and was closed to the public since.
Yet now, history will be made again as Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippines’ flag carrier, is set to introduce domestic flights between Cebu and Baguio — creating a direct link between the regional center of the Visayas area and Northern Luzon’s trade and education hub.
Baguio was also the destination of the very first flight Philippine Airlines’ offered when it launched in 1941.
“We’re happy to be back in Baguio, PAL’s very first destination! Our Manila-Baguio flight on March 15, 1941 marked the dawn of the aviation age for the Philippines – and for Asia,” the airline, which claims to be the oldest airline in Asia operating under its original name, wrote on social media.
Beginning December 16, flights between Cebu and Baguio will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with morning departures. PR 2230 will depart from Mactan-Cebu Airport at 8:50am and arrive at Baguio Loakan Airport at 10:50am. Meanwhile, PR 2231 flies from Loakan Airport in Baguioat 11:10am, and will arrive in Cebu at 1pm.
Currently, Loakan Airport only caters to military and chartered flights. Earlier this year, Baguio City officials said they were eyeing the reopening of Loakan Airport by December with a rehabilitation budget of PHP68 million (US$1.16 million).
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