INTERNATIONAL flights by Philippine Airlines (PAL) will fly direct from General Santos City to Kuala Lumpur from December.
Reports in Manila Times said the first direct flight from the GenSan newly upgraded airport to Kuala Lumpur is scheduled for Dec 9.
The General Santos City International Airport was opened on Monday, November 22, after a series of delays with its renovation and upgrade.
The completion of the rehabilitation was part of the P959-million (RM80.5m) airport upgrade, which included other completed components such as the procurement and installation of a state-of-the-art navigational system similar to Clark Airport's facilities and the construction of the new Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines administration building.
The GenSan international airport expansion now occupies about 12,000 square meters from the previous 4,000 square meters and targets to cater to 2 million passengers annually.
The GenSan International Airport terminal features an aerobridge and the expanded space that now allows to park seven planes at one time compared to the previous one that only allows three to four planes.
During the airport's launch, President Rodrigo Duterte said that this is another significant milestone under the Build Build Build programme of his administration that will usher in tremendous benefits for the region.
Duterte also said the airport will help boost the agro-industrial and ecotourism industry of Central Mindanao.