AS the country’s tourism industry rebounds from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is requesting the major airlines to designate direct international and domestic flights to and from Iloilo City.

On Thursday, Mayor Treñas wrote a signed letter to Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia “to resume the offer of direct flights servicing passengers direct from Iloilo City and vice-versa to both international and domestic destinations.”

In the letter, Treñas said that “while tourism continues to be one of the sectors hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic landscape here in Iloilo City perceives a continuing travel boom to the Asia-Pacific Region.”

The letters were addressed to Philippine Airlines COO Stanley Ng, AirAsia CEO Ricky Isla, and Cebu Pacific CEO Mike Szucs.

The country has eased its restrictions on travel and tourism.

“It would seemingly show that demand for travel has not dampened consumers looking to make up for time lost to Covid-19,” Treñas said.

By strengthening tourism, Treñas believes that the road towards economic recovery will be easier.

Moreover, Treñas is urging Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. to consider the proposed Iloilo International Airport expansion through a publicprivate partnership (PPP).

“On my own, I wrote the Aboitiz InfraCapital headed by Cosette Canilao who used to head the PPP Center. As a user of the airport, I can see it (expansion) is terribly needed,” Treñas said.

“Maybe it’s really timely for the airlines to look at Iloilo, to see that we are moving forward.”