Bautista cites aviation sector’s importance
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista on Sunday evening led the send-off ceremony for the Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) resumption of its first international flight and the first Manila to Perth flight after it grounded its operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secretary Bautista stressed the importance of the aviation sector and its expansion to accommodate the rapid demand for air travel.
“Aviation is one indispensable mode of modern transport. This Perth inaugural flight will start to reconnect the lost air bridges and re-ignite the once robust tourism and trade relations with other countries,” Secretary Bautista said.
To support the aviation sector, Secretary Bautista assured that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will push for the expansion, upgrade and modernization of existing local airports, including the night-rating of airports and accommodation of jet aircraft operations.
“Our role is to make the travel experience not just memorable but more importantly – comfortable, accessible, safe and affordable,” he said.
At the PAL MNL-PER inaugural flight were Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum, Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan, Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Nograles, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong, and PAL President Capt. Stanley Ng.
