DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 9 January) – The Philippines aims to reestablish air connectivity from Davao City to Manado and Kuala Lumpur to strengthen air linkages among members of the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). During the “Business Forum” at NCCC on Friday, Romeo Castañaga, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao, stated that the country plans to revive these air routes, with the working group on air connectivity currently engaging with airlines to reopen these international links. Castañaga, also the Philippine head of BIMP-EAGA’s Trade and Investment Promotion Cluster, mentioned that Cebu Pacific (CebPac) and Philippine Airlines have shown interest in operating the routes but have yet to finalize their decision. He added that they have not heard from their Indonesian counterparts regarding Garuda Group’s interest in servicing the routes. Malaysia’s AirAsia ceased its Davao-Kuala Lumpur flights in August 2018 due to low passenger load, while Garuda Indonesia suspended its Davao-Manado flights in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Castañaga noted that the Davao-Manado route performed well before the suspension, with several fully booked trips. Established in 1994, BIMP-EAGA seeks to spur economic development through trade, investment, tourism, and improved air and shipping links. To sustain passenger loads, the working group is exploring a triangulated route with stopovers in domestic destinations like Siargao or Cebu. Davao’s special committee on air connectivity is also looking beyond BIMP-EAGA for direct connections. Currently, Davao’s direct international passenger flights include CebPac’s Bangkok-Don Mueang and Hong Kong, Qatar Airways’ Doha, and Scoot’s Singapore, while international cargo flights include JD Airlines’ Shenzhen, MJets Air’s Macau, and Royal Air Philippines’ Nanning. Castañaga emphasized the need to strengthen Davao’s position as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination to attract tourists and investors.
