Natit
9th Aug 2006, 05:59
From Sun.Star (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2006/07/27/bus/aussie.airline.to.open.darwin.davao.air.link.html)
Quentin Kilian, director for Asian relations of the NT Department of the Chief Minister's Trade and Major Products Division, said NT-based airline Air Frontier recently announced that it would launch passenger and cargo flights between Davao City and Darwin in Australia.
"The airline is targeting to launch its maiden flight via Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea before the end of the year," Kilian said.
Darwin, considered as Australia's northern gateway, is NT's seat of government as well as trade and industrial center.
Kilian said Air Frontier's expansion to Mindanao was earlier pushed by the NT government as part of its strategic development programs for the resurging Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
He said NT, the sub-region's long-time development partner, is currently connected to the area through Garuda Airline's Darwin-Bali and Darwin-Balikpapan flights and Royal Brunei Airline's Darwin-Brunei flights.
Kilian said among the airline's primary considerations for expanding to Mindanao was the area's cultural connections with Darwin, which is home to more than 6,000 Filipino immigrants who trace their roots to Davao and Cebu.
Considering that the flying time between Davao and Darwin is only about three hours, he said it would be easier and cheaper for the Filipinos in northern Australia to visit the country. Kilian said Air Frontier is also planning to establish a base in Davao City.
Quentin Kilian, director for Asian relations of the NT Department of the Chief Minister's Trade and Major Products Division, said NT-based airline Air Frontier recently announced that it would launch passenger and cargo flights between Davao City and Darwin in Australia.
"The airline is targeting to launch its maiden flight via Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea before the end of the year," Kilian said.
Darwin, considered as Australia's northern gateway, is NT's seat of government as well as trade and industrial center.
Kilian said Air Frontier's expansion to Mindanao was earlier pushed by the NT government as part of its strategic development programs for the resurging Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
He said NT, the sub-region's long-time development partner, is currently connected to the area through Garuda Airline's Darwin-Bali and Darwin-Balikpapan flights and Royal Brunei Airline's Darwin-Brunei flights.
Kilian said among the airline's primary considerations for expanding to Mindanao was the area's cultural connections with Darwin, which is home to more than 6,000 Filipino immigrants who trace their roots to Davao and Cebu.
Considering that the flying time between Davao and Darwin is only about three hours, he said it would be easier and cheaper for the Filipinos in northern Australia to visit the country. Kilian said Air Frontier is also planning to establish a base in Davao City.