Airlines to resume Boracay flights in October

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — Major airline companies have announced they will resume flights to Boracay via Caticlan, in time for the resumption of the island's tourism industry on October 1.

The Philippine Airlines on Tuesday said the first flight from Manila to Boracay, PR 2041, will depart at 11:10 a.m. on October 1, and will arrive at Caticlan airport in Aklan at 12:10 p.m. Returning flight will leave at 12:55 p.m. and will arrive Manila at 1:55 p.m, the flag carrier said in its statement.

There also will be flights scheduled on Oct. 4, 9, and 11, “which will pave the way for a regular twice weekly Manila-Caticlan-Manila schedule operating every Friday and Sunday from October 16 onwards, with the same timings,” it said.

PAL said this aims to support the government’s effort to revive the island's tourism industry.

Meanwhile, AirAsia announced it will also gradually resume flights to Caticlan beginning October 2.

The first flight from Manila will leave at 12:35 p.m., and will arrive in Caticlan at 1:40 p.m, the airline said in its statement.

AirAsia also plans to increase the flight frequency to the destination to three times a week— every Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays starting October 11.

The government said tourists from areas under general community quarantine will be allowed to enter Boracay island starting Thursday this week, but certain health protocols will have to be followed. These include a negative polymerase chain reaction test result two to three days before travel.

READ: Traveling to Boracay? What you need to know ahead of island’s opening to more locals

AirAsia also advised guests to prepare a health declaration card, which can be accessed through Aklan’s government website.

Prior to this, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed tourists of all ages only from Western Visayas to visit Boracay as a way to slowly reopen its tourism industry.