Having closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Borongan Airport in Eastern Samar welcomed the resumption of commercial flights earlier today.
At 11:59 AM today, a PAL flight from Cebu (CEB) utilizing a De Havilland Dash 8 – Q400 landed at the Borongan Airport and was welcomed by Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, PAL Vice President for Sales Salvador Britanico, PAL AVP for Network and Fleet Planning Bryan Ang, and CAAP Area 8 Manager Danilo Abareta.
The maiden flight carried 73 passengers from Cebu to Borongan. PAL will fly to and from Borongan Airport twice a week, every Monday and Friday. The flights were added to provide easier air travel from Eastern Samar to Manila, where passengers used to travel by land for three to four hours to the nearest airport in Tacloban City.
“We would like to thank all of the stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to make this new service a reality. CAAP will remain committed to ensuring that the new flight routes are operated safely and efficiently. Hopefully, our travelers will take advantage of this new flights to Borongan and experience all that Borongan and Eastern Samar have to offer,” according to Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, CAAP Director General.
Borongan City is located in the Province of Eastern Samar, an emerging surfing site and home to tourist spots such as Ando Island, Divinubo Island, Hilangagan Beach, Matandugon Beach, and Baybay Boulevard. The Borongan Airport — a community airport with a pre-departure area — currently has a seating capacity of 75.