DOTC: Gov't to close old Bacolod airport
Bacolod City -- The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said the old Bacolod Airport will be closed after the last evening flight on January 17, 2008.
Edgar Mangalili, airport project manager of the new Bacolod-Silay Airport, said the government has no plan to retain the Bacolod airport, four kilometers from this city.
"It is costly for the government to maintain two airports in one location and as far as the DOTC and national government are concerned, the old airport will be closed after January 17 while the remaining equipments will be transfered at the new airport in Silay," he said.
The new P5.6-billion Bacolod-Silay Airport located in Bagtic, Silay City is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 18 by Vice President Noli De Castro and Pampanga congressman Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo.
Mangalili said Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines had already confirmed flight schedules starting in the morning of January 18 at the new airport.
"The last scheduled flight from the present or old Bacolod Airport is on January 17, and the first historic landings on the new Bacolod-Silay Airport will be on January 18 which are the 5:40 a.m. of Cebu Pacific, 6:15 a.m. of the PAL and 7 a.m. of Air Philippines, after which normal flight schedules will follow," he said.
Mangalili advised the passengers to check in at least two hours ahead of their scheduled flight since it takes one hour travel from Bacolod City to the new airport.
He added that road signages along McKinley road will to guide the travelers. (PNA)