Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - Garuda Indonesia opened direct flights Manado (North Sulawesi) - Davao City, the Philippines to follow up on the Air Transport Agreement between the two countries signed on March 24, 1972.

The flight which is available every week on Mondays and Fridays has been starting since September 27, 2019, the Government News Network (JPP) has reported as quoted by Indonesia Window here on Monday.

Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Sinyo Harry Sarundajang said that the idea of ​​opening the flight began with his meeting with his Philippine counterpart Leehiong T. Wee on September 1, 2018.

On the occasion, the two agreed to reopen direct flights from Manado to Davao to enhance trade, tourism and investment cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines.

"Since then various efforts have been made to encourage airlines of the two countries to explore the opening of these flight routes," Sarundajang said when  giving a speech at the arrival of Garuda Indonesia at the Francisco International Airport in Davao City, Philippines, Friday (9/27).

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Consul General in Davao, Dicky Fabrian, said that strengthening the connection with air transportation was one of the important achievements marking the 70 years of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Philippines.

The Garuda flight on the Manado-Davao route will make it easier for Filipino tourists, especially from the Mindanao Islands to visit Manado and other cities in Indonesia.

A total of 8,745 people of Indonesian descent in Mindanao and around 5,000 Filipino citizens and their descendants who live in Manado and other cities in North Sulawesi are expected to take advantage of these flight routes.

Reporting by Indonesia Window