Kalibo will soon serve nine direct international flights weekly from the airport with new flights and airline operators. Zest Air and Asiana will be introducing direct flight from Seoul, South Korea from July 27 while China Eastern Airlines is expected to land at the KIA before the end of the year.
“Aside from these flights, the Mandarin Airline still continue to land in Kalibo directly from Taipei in Taiwan,” said Malonesio.
Kalibo International Airport has the following International airlines as operators--- Mandarin Airlines, China Airlines, and soon to be Asiana and China Eastern. Of the local airlines, PAL, CEB and Zest, only Zest Airways flies international flight out of Kalibo to Seoul, South Korea. Most of the passengers are bound to world famous Boracay Island.
First foreign airline.
Kalibo International witnessed the arrival of its first international airline in June 14, 2008 when the maiden flight of Mandarin Airlines from Taipei, Taiwan touched down the Kalibo International Airport Saturday. Boeing 737-800 flight AE7265 left Taipei at 4:20 PM. and reached Kalibo at 6:40 PM.
Mandarin Airlines’ supervisor for passenger handling Richard Ma said many Taiwanese want to visit Boracay Island. “They like to travel to the Philippines because the service standards are very good,” Ma added.The Mandarin Airlines’ Kalibo-Taipei flight is the fourth Philippine destination of the airline. It also has flights from Taipei to Cebu, Subic and Laoag. Established on June 1, 1991, the Mandarin Airlines services regional short-haul international and domestic routes.
Its second international operating airline is China Airlines which landed at the airport in November 27, 2008. The E-190 flight CI-7913 with 90 passengers arrived at 9:30AM and operates on a twice a week service.
