A private aviation company is set to resume commercial flights between Davao City and Manado, Indonesia, after they were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leading Edge Air Services Corporation (LEASCOR), the aviation arm of the ACDI Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), said it is confident that the air connectivity between the two cities will be sustained despite the challenges posed by the health crisis.
“We are just confident that if we do each other’s part, we will sustain connectivity,” said retired Major General Gilbert Llanto, chairperson of the ACDI MPC, in a statement.
Llanto said the flights will cater to the needs of the business, tourism, and cultural sectors of both Davao and Manado, which have a long history of bilateral relations.
Manado, the capital of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, has been linked to Davao City by air since 1992 through various Indonesian airlines, such as Bouraq Air, Merpati, and Sriwijaya. The most recent operator was Garuda, which started the service in 2019 but stopped it in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Llanto did not specify the date and frequency of the flights, but said they will coordinate with the local governments and the aviation authorities of both countries to ensure the safety and convenience of the passengers.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City for facilitating the revival of the flights.
“We are very thankful to the Indonesian Consulate General for their support and assistance in making this happen,” he said.