Saturday, January 3, 2009

01-03-09: First direct international flight lands in Bacolod, Negros Occidental



SILAY, PHILIPPINES - A international plane that was chartered from Kazakhstan, with similar size to a BAC 111 aircraft (see sample picture), landed at the Bacolod-Silay Airport 10:58 p.m. Manila time on Jan. 2. It was loaded with European foreign investors looking to explore the possibility of medical tourism in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.

Air Transportation Office manager Antonio Alfonso Jr. said the twin-engine Russian-made airplane flew directly from Amaty, Kazakhstan and refueled in Chengdu, China before coming in to the airport. He also said there were eight passengers and eight crew members on the historic flight.

Local customs, quarantine and immigration functions were at the airport to validate the travel documents and welcome the passengers.

Rep. Monico Puentevella of the Bacolod district assisted in allowing the plane to land in Bacolod without having to stop in Cebu or Manila.

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