PAL’s first Airbus A330 lands at Bohol-Panglao International Airport

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — The Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) welcomed Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) first Airbus A330 flight to Bohol on Tuesday, Oct. 27, marking a milestone in the province’s growing air connectivity and tourism development.

The wide-body aircraft arrived at 6:25 a.m. on flight PR1771 from Manila, carrying 150 passengers. It received a water cannon salute, a traditional aviation welcome for milestone flights.

The aircraft later departed for Manila as flight PR1772 with 190 passengers, bringing the total number of travelers served during its first rotation to 340.

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The Airbus A330 offers significantly greater passenger capacity than the narrow-body aircraft that typically operate on the route.

“Having both of the country’s major airlines fly wide-body aircraft into Bohol shows how far BPIA has come,” Aldwin Uy, general manager of Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corporation (ABAC), the airport’s private operator, said in a statement.

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“Every additional seat in Bohol is an opportunity for our communities, from hotels and tour operators to the farmers, artisans and small enterprises that make the Bohol experience what it is,” Uy added.

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PAL’s arrival makes it the second airline to operate wide-body aircraft into Bohol. The development was made possible by ABAC’s upgrades to the airport’s firefighting and rescue capabilities, undertaken in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The additional passenger capacity comes as Bohol prepares for the year-end travel season and advances the provincial government’s Visit Bohol 2027 campaign. Public and private sector stakeholders aligned their efforts on the campaign during the Bohol Tourism Marketing Workshop earlier this month.

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Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado welcomed the development, saying it reflected airlines’ confidence in the province’s tourism potential.

“We happily welcome Philippine Airlines’ very first Airbus A330 here at our Bohol-Panglao International Airport. This shows the confidence of our airlines in the potential of the Province of Bohol for more tourists and visitors. Thank you very much, Philippine Airlines,” Aumentado said.

BPIA is the country’s ninth-busiest airport, while Bohol is recognized as the Philippines’ first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Global Geopark and remains a major tourism destination.

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With two airlines now offering wide-body services to the province, the airport is positioned to accommodate more visitors, provide airlines with greater flexibility during peak travel periods and support future route development. /cb