More budget airlines needed at Laoag airport

BY LEILANIE G. ADRIANO
STAFF REPORTER

WHILE LAYING the blue prints of this province’s new face to the world, the Laoag International Airport (LIA) needs more budget airlines to provide better passenger service to the growing number of tourists and visitors coming in.

As the yuletide season is fast approaching, air passengers wish to have more budget airlines servicing the Manila-Laoag routes and vice versa as bookings as early as November are already full.

Architect Jun Palafox in his capacity as principal architect and urban planner of Ilocos Norte’s major tourism master plan said these problems have to be addressed soon by inviting more passenger airlines to service this northern gateway of Luzon.

At present, daily flights are offered by at least two airlines servicing the Laoag airport’s round the clock operation. Several chartered flights to Hong Kong and Kaohsiung has been temporarily stopped due to the Quirino Grandstand incident.
Citing the tourism market potential of Ilocos Norte, Palafox said this province has everything to make things happen from its vast natural resources, heritage sites, manpower and competent visionary leaders to implement Metro Ilocos Norte’s master plan, which is one of the major visions of Ilocos Norte Gov. Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos.

Part of the phase I of Metro Ilocos Norte’s master plan project is to improve the Laoag airport’s facility and to have added-value services to airport passengers like the establishment of shopping centers, restaurants and other amenities.

“There is no excuse if not to take off,” said the governor on the November 17, 2010 final presentation of Metro Ilocos Norte’s master plan for tourism attended by multi-sectoral groups who joined the public consultation.

She reported that the province is expecting about P50 million from the national government to improve the airport.

source: The Ilocos Times - November 15 - November 21, 2010 issue