LAOAG AIRPORT. The newly-upgraded Laoag International Airport is now ready to welcome bigger aircraft, such as Airbus A330. This aims to boost tourism and economic recovery efforts of the province amid a global pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Ronald Estabillo) LAOAG CITY - The Laoag International Airport (LIA) looks forward to welcoming bigger aircraft this year as the airport has been upgraded to Level 9 from its existing Level 7 category. In a phone interview on Monday, LIA manager Ronald Estabillo said a category Level 9 airport permits wide-body Airbus A330 to land at the newly upgraded runway. "This is in preparation for the planned direct international flights that we hope to be catering in the future," said Estabillo, as he reported a market demand for direct international flights to Laoag from Hong Kong, China, and Honolulu, Hawaii, and vice versa. Ilocos Norte province currently holds the highest percentage worldwide pegged at 61 percent of families receiving financial