Painting the skies RED in Ozamiz

Aviation Updates Philippines – Unfortunately, the flight to the south was not the usual inaugural flight for everyone. No welcoming festivities, no water cannon salute, no fancy buffets, and arrival speeches.

On Friday, an Airbus A320-216 aircraft of Philippines AirAsia arrived at Labo airport in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental for a repatriation flight. However, the mere duty of flying over 150 OFWs and returning residents was already a special feat for the airline.

Photos of the first arrival were posted from the official Facebook page of the Local Government of Oroquieta. This is a first for AirAsia, indeed, with RP-C8950 flying the maiden to the Mindanaoan city last week.

Flight Z2-8445 departed from Manila 2:21 pm and arrived in Ozamiz more than an hour later. The aircraft returned as flight Z2-8446 which departed from Ozamiz at 4:28 pm and arrived uneventfully back in Manila at 5:40 pm.

"This first Air Asia flight in Ozamiz City is the repatriation flight with flight no. Z28445 from Manila using the Airbus A320-216WL with reg. RP-C8950. This is made possible through the Balik Mis Occ Program of the Province of Misamis Occidental," the LGU said in a Facebook post.

To reassure safety, all passengers aboard were tested via COVID-19 rapid tests in Manila by the Department of Health (DOH). After arriving in their locales, passengers are required to undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

Photo by Juvelyn Paradiro Cimacio and PIA Misamis Occidental