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LAGUINDINGAN, Misamis Oriental (Misamis Oriental/13 March) – The international airport in this town is already capable of night flights.
A Cebu Pacific Air ATR 72-500 turbo-prop made the first night landing at the Languindigan Airport at 8:30 pm Thursday night.
A small delegation of Department of Tourism officials led by Region 10 Director Catalino Chan III and Cebu Pacific Air officials met the arriving passengers who were entertained by Lumad dancers.
“It was a smooth landing. The best so far,” Cagayan de Oro photographer Tom Udasco said of the historic flight.
Chan said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines finished the installation of the navigational runway lights late last year but it was only now that major airline companies deployed their planes.
Cebu Pacific Air vice president Candice Iyog commended the national government for upgrading the airport and installing the navigational lights.
“We look forward into serving more passengers to boost trade and tourism in Northern Mindanao,” Iyog said in a statement.
She said Cebu Pacific Air subsidiary, Tigerair Philippines, is also set to operate night flights in Laguindingan Airport by end of March.
Laguindingan Airport serves as the gateway to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur , Bukidnon and Camiguin. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)