■ Hanna C. Lacsamana
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will suspend its Cebu-Baguio-Cebu flights starting July 1.
In a statement, PAL confirmed the suspension of PAL flights between the two tourist cities which the country’s flag carrier reopened in December 2022.
“We confirm that PAL will be suspending flights between Cebu and Baguio starting July 1 due to route network adjustments. Passengers of the cancelled flight Cebu-Baguio-Cebu will be provided the necessary assistance. We remain supportive of local government’s initiatives in promoting Baguio as a destination,” said Ma. Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesperson.
The announcement followed notably after the state weather bureau announced the start of the typhoon season last week, which makes air travel to and from the mountain city and the rest of the Cordillera risky due to poor visibility aside from being typically foggy during inclement weather.
PAL opened the Baguio-Cebu commercial flights on Dec. 16, 2022 and operated four times a week. The new route allowed hassle-free travel to the City of Pines from the Queen City of the South and vice versa in just two hours, instead of the longer travel hours by sea and land.
It also considered the new route as “pioneer and a historic homecoming for Asia’s first airline.”
The Department of Tourism also earlier said the Baguio-Cebu flights will certainly provide new opportunities that would propel closer interaction between the two most prominent tourist destinations in the country.
The DOT-Cordillera had also been working with its counterpart in Cebu to improve and sustain the connectivity of Baguio City and Cebu by marketing both places in hopes to maintain the two-way flights.