DAVAO CITY – Planong ibalik ang flight sa pagitan ng Davao at Manado, Indonesia.
Sa pahayag nitong Biyernes, Enero 5, ng Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), na nangunguna sa exploratory mission, sinabi na lumipad sila kasama ang
Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR) patungong Sulawesi sa Leading Edge 70-seater ATR 72-500 na eroplano upang suriin ang kasalukuyang market conditions at oportunidad sa pagbabalik ng ruta.
Ang ruta ay unang binuksan noong Mayo 2007, nahinto at muling binuhay noong Setyembre 27, 2019 sa maiden flight sa pamamagitan ng Garuda Indonesia Airlines tuwing Lunes at Biyernes.
Sa kabila nito, natigil ang operasyon dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic pagsapit ng 2020.
Inilarawan ni Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, MinDA deputy executive director, ang mission bilang “timely and strategic shared action” para buhayin ang ruta.
“Davao-Manado has always been viable air connectivity. Hopefully, this time, it will have more interactions, exchanges and mobility between Manado–Davao, and the larger Mindanao and North Sulawesi,” ani Montenegro.
“We can look into reviving student internship and exchange programs among our schools, as well as joint hospitality, wellness, and cultural tourism undertakings,” sinabi ni Joji Ilagan-Bian, chairperson ng Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Mindanao para sa Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
“We can look into reviving student internship and exchange programs among our schools, as well as joint hospitality, wellness, and cultural tourism undertakings,” dagdag ni Ilagan-Bian.
Samantala, sinabi ni Manado Mayor Andrei Angouw na ang mga aral sa nakaraang “unsustainable resumptions” ng ruta ay dapat nang maging pagkakataon sa mga lider at stakeholder na makabuo ng konkreto at holistic approach ang dalawang lungsod.
“We can explore many possibilities, but we must learn from our mistakes this time. Trade and connectivity must go hand in hand so that we can connect businesses and visit each other more frequently,” ani Angouw. RNT/JGC
