NEW AIR ROUTE. The runway of Ormoc Airport in Ormoc City, Leyte. The Ormoc city government has welcomed the plan of Philippine Airlines to open the Manila-Ormoc route, saying this will support the goal of having "reliable air transportation." (Photo courtesy of Metro Ormoc FB page)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Ormoc city government has welcomed the plan of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to open the Manila-Ormoc route in support of the goal of having "reliable air transportation."
In a statement on Monday, Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez said they met on July 4 with Captain Stanley Ng, PAL president and chief operating officer, to discuss plans to launch the new air route.
"Ormoc is poised for a cultural and infrastructural revolution, where reliable air transportation plays a crucial role in facilitating both passenger and cargo movements," Torres said.
Currently, Manila-bound travelers from Ormoc have to take a more than two-hour trip to Tacloban City to catch a plane ride to the country's capital.
Torres also emphasized Ormoc City's role as the gateway to the western side of Leyte Island, as well as Southern Leyte and Biliran provinces, "representing a significant portion of the region's population and economic activities."
Using an 86-seater turboprop aircraft, PAL plans to operate the Manila-Ormoc-Manila flights three times a week.
PAL is committed to using an Airbus if the demand goes up.
The maiden flight will be launched in early 2025 in time for the completion of an air control tower in December this year, to direct and monitor the movement of aircraft.
The airport's runway is also undergoing final renovation works as part of the PHP329-million expansion activities, according to the city government.
The runway underwent developments in past years such as asphalt overlay, strip grade correction, and runway widening.
Other developments included the renovation of the passenger terminal building destroyed by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, as well as the construction of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines administration building, both completed in 2019.
The Ormoc Airport has been upgraded with the construction of the landing area and taxiway, and the expansion of its apron.
Once fully completed, the airport can accept bigger commercial aircraft.
The airport used to accommodate Cebu-Ormoc-Cebu and Clark-Ormoc-Clark flights but these stopped due to pandemic restrictions in early 2020.
The Ormoc Airport with a runway length of 2,042 meters, is one of three airports in the province of Leyte, the others being Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City and Hilongos Airport in Hilongos town. (PNA)
