Direct flights from Davao to Quanzhou Jinjiang by Xiamen Airlines resumed with a bi-weekly schedule
starting October 29, 2023.
A total of 60 passengers, composed of businessmen and Chinese Nationals with families in the city, boarded the flight launched on October 29, 2023, after years of hiatus.
City Tourism Operations Office Head Jennifer Romero, in an interview during the launching event held at Fransciso Bangoy International Airport, said that the direct flights are every Wednesday and Sunday.
“This flight is a good indicator nga nagresume na gyud siya (that the operations have resumed) and hopefully this will be sustained,” Romero said, adding that the resumption is a welcome development as it is due to the pandemic that the Davao-China direct flights temporarily stopped.
“We are working nga mapadayon na ni siya, and tuloy tuloy na ni nga flights… We are working on group arrivals sa Xiamen so we will continue to promote and tap wholesalers, and travel agencies nga mag create sila og itinerary for a group tour (of those) who will come and visit Davao City (We are working that this [flight] would continue and it will not be interrupted…We are working on group arrivals in Xiamen, so we will continue to promote and tap wholesalers travel agencies that they will create an itinerary for group tours for those who will come and visit in Davao City),” she said.
She noted that the continuation of the flight must be a collaborative effort with tourism stakeholders and members of the Chinese community in the city who are regularly flying back and to and from Davao City.
Romero said that their office, the national government agencies, and tourism partners are pushing for the opening of more direct flights from Davao to foreign destinations.
Present during the program for the flight resumption are Jinjiang Airport General Manager- Ms. Yang Shuanghua and Jinjiang Airport officials, Assistant General Manager or Xiamen Airlines Travel- Mr. Liang Yingbin and Xiamen Airlines officials, Ms. Li Qian- Deputy Consul from the Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Davao, Sangguniang Panlungsod Tourism Chair Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, Department of Tourism XI Regional Director Tanya Rabat Tan, city officials, and guests. CIO
