Bacolod-Silay airport welcomes first int'l flight

BACOLOD CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) -- The new Bacolod-Silay airport has welcomed its first international flight carrying a group of investors from Kazakhstan who have expressed interest in the medical tourism potentials of Negros Occidental.

Antonio Alfonso Jr., head of the local Air Transportation Office (ATO), said the twin-engine Russian-made aircraft which flew from Amaty, Kazakhstan, stopped over for refueling in Chengdu, China before it landed at the Bacolod-Silay airport last Jan. 2.

The chartered plane, which has the same size as a BAC 111 aircraft, arrived at 10:58 p.m., he said.

The eight passengers and eight crew members were welcomed by local customs, quarantine, and immigration officials.

The visit of the Kazakhstan group was coordinated by Negrense businessman Jesus Vargas who requested assistance from Rep. Monico Puentevella, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation.

The Negros Occidental congressman has asked Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan to act on the request of Vargas.

When the P5.6-billion Bacolod-Silay airport opened almost a year ago, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza then said the airport would be declared as an international gateway based on the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

He added that the airport would usher in a new air transportation era for Negros Occidental as it would be opened to international flights initially from other Southeast Asian countries.