Japanese tour operator pledges to buy 50% of seats for Japan-Davao flights
A JAPANESE travel and tour operator has given guarantee to buy 50% of the seats for the proposed direct flights between Japan and Davao City, according a local business official. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) President Arturo M. Milan said the tour operator was one of the eight Japanese attendees during a recent City Tourism stakeholders meeting . He said the Japanese are pushing for the Davao-Japan-Davao direct flight. “According to him (Japanese), he can already assure 50% of the available seats for Japan-Davao route for all Japanese tourists,” Mr. Milan said during a media forum earlier this week. The DCCCII has been pushing for the direct air service from flag carrier Philippine Airlines while the city council has passed a resolution supporting the proposal. Mr. Milan also pointed out that the opening of Davao-Japan direct flights will help decongest the country’s main gateway in Metro Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “You’re creating space (at NAIA)… It is just a mindset because the traditional mindset (of people from) Mindanao punta ng (is go to) Manila and take their international flights out there… We are now developing the air traffic in Davao for international flights and that is the objective of why we are doing it,” he said. — Maya M. Padillo