Philippines' Domestic Airports: A Comprehensive Overview

The Philippines is an archipelago of nearly 7,641 islands, making it a popular tourist destination. The country has 88 airports owned by the national government, which are classified into three main categories: international airports, principal airports, and community airports.

There are eight international airports in the Philippines, including Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport. These airports serve both domestic and international flights and are equipped with various amenities such as restaurants, cafes, and currency exchange kiosks.

Principal airports are further divided into two classes. Class 1 principal airports, such as Bancasi Airport and Awang Airport, can accommodate jet aircraft with a capacity of at least 100 seats. Class 2 principal airports, including Sanga-Sanga Airport and Francisco B. Reyes Airport, serve propeller aircraft with a capacity of at least 19 seats.

Community airports, like Borongan Airport and Labo Airport, are primarily used for general aviation purposes, including private jets, medical flights, flight training, and agricultural aviation.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) oversees the regulation and classification of airports in the country, ensuring their safety and efficiency for economic and business travel.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, also known as Manila International Airport, is the main international airport serving Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, around 7km south of Manila proper, it is the main gateway for travellers to the Philippines and serves as a hub for PAL Express and Philippine Airlines. It is also the main operating base for AirSWIFT, Cebgo, Cebu Pacific, and Philippines AirAsia.

The airport is named after former Philippine senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was assassinated at the airport in 1983. NAIA is managed by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), an agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

NAIA has four terminals and all of them have Wi-Fi access. Terminal 1 handles the majority of international flights, while Terminal 2 mostly handles domestic flights under Philippine Airlines. Terminal 3 is the newest terminal that handles international flights and has a footbridge that connects to Newport City. Terminal 4 is the oldest terminal and handles only domestic flights.

In 2023, NAIA served 45.3 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in the Philippines, the 15th busiest in Asia, and the 38th busiest in the world. However, the airport is operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers, leading to congestion and flight delays.

To reduce congestion, there are two nearby construction projects underway: the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, and the upgrade of Sangley Point Airport in Cavite City into an international airport.

Clark International Airport, Pampanga

Clark International Airport, also known as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, is located in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. It is about 80km from the capital city of Manila and is accessible via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway. The airport is managed and operated by the Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp. and is one of the busiest airports in the country.

Clark International Airport is known for its impressive architecture, recognised as a laureate of Prix Versailles' 2023 list of the World's Most Beautiful Airports. The airport's new terminal, which opened in 2022, features a unique wave roof design inspired by the mountains of Mount Arayat, Mount Pinatubo, and the Sierra Madre mountain range. The terminal has four levels, with the ground level dedicated to baggage claim and arrival halls, and the fourth level housing food and beverage areas.

The airport currently has two runways, with the primary runway being 3,200 metres long and 60 metres wide. Clark International Airport serves Metro Clark and the Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, and Manila metropolitan areas, providing both international and domestic flights. The airport has seen remarkable growth, meeting its 2024 targets and recording a 160% increase in passenger traffic in 2023.

For travellers, the airport recommends allowing 2-4 hours for check-in, security, and immigration formalities before departure. The airport provides park and fly services, and public transportation options include air-conditioned jeepneys and intercity buses to nearby areas, as well as direct point-to-point bus services to various locations in the Philippines.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Cebu

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (IATA: CEB, ICAO: RPVM) is the second busiest airport in the Philippines, serving as the main gateway to the Central Visayas region. It is located on a 797-hectare site in Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan and is managed by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, operated by the GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation.

The airport was opened on April 27, 1966, initially for domestic flights, with international charter flights commencing in 1978. It serves as a hub for Philippine Airlines, and as an operating base for Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia, and Sunlight Air.

The airport has two terminals. Terminal 1, built in 1990, serves as the domestic terminal, with a capacity of 11.7 million passengers. Terminal 2 is the newer international terminal, with a capacity of eight million passengers.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport offers an array of shops and dining options for travellers. It also provides convenient connections, with over 20 airlines facilitated from this airport, including AirAsia, AirSWIFT, and Qatar Airways.

The airport has been recognised for its architecture, winning an award in the "Completed Buildings – Transport" category at the World Architecture Festival in 2019.

Kalibo International Airport, Aklan

The Philippines has 88 airports owned by the national government, which are placed into three categories: international, principal, and community airports.

Kalibo International Airport (IATA: KLO, ICAO: RPVK) is one of the two airports serving Boracay, the other being Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (also known as Caticlan Airport). It is situated 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the town proper of Kalibo and 68 kilometres (42 mi) southwest of Caticlan port in Malay. It is one of the two classified international airports on the island of Panay, alongside Iloilo International Airport, and is among the busiest airports in Western Visayas.

The airport is the fastest-growing airport in the Philippines in terms of passenger traffic, with more than 50% growth in 2010, and was the second-fastest for seats offered for June 2014 over the corresponding month of the previous year (20%).

The airport has a single 2,500-meter (8,200 ft) runway with a width of 45 meters (148 ft), running in a direction of 05°/23°. It can accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family.

The airport has a two-level passenger terminal building. The first level houses the check-in counters, security checks, and the pre-departure area. The second level houses the airline offices in the check-in area, and various kiosks. The pre-departure area also has restaurants and pasalubong centres.

The international passenger terminal building has an area of 2,633.40 square meters (28,345.7 sq ft) and can accommodate 406 passengers.

The airport's air traffic control (ATC) tower has a height of 30 feet, which is the minimum airport tower height in the Philippines.

Domestic Airports in the Philippines

There are 40 principal airports in the Philippines, which are further divided into two subclasses:

• Class 1 principal airports are airports capable of serving jet aircraft with a capacity of at least 100 seats (but could be 70). As of February 2022, there are 21 airports under this sub-category, all of which have regularly scheduled air service.
• Class 2 principal airports are airports capable of serving propeller aircraft with a capacity of at least 19 seats. There are 19 airports under this sub-category, most of which have regularly scheduled air service.

There are also 40 community airports, which are used primarily for general aviation. Only a few community airports, such as Siquijor Airport and Vigan Airport, have regularly scheduled air service.

Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao City

The Philippines has 88 airports owned by the national government, which are placed into three categories: international, principal, and community airports. Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as Davao International Airport, is an international airport and is the third busiest airport in the Philippines. It is the main airport serving Davao City and the Davao Region, and is the busiest airport on the island of Mindanao.

The airport is located in the Buhangin district of Davao City and was opened for civil aviation in 1958. It has a single 3,000-metre runway and can handle all wide-bodied passenger aircraft, including the Airbus A380. The airport has two dual-access taxiways and can accommodate 8 to 10 aircraft landings per hour.

The airport has a modern terminal building, which was inaugurated in 2003 and is four times larger than the old terminal. It is fully computerized and has more commercial spaces for concessionaires. The terminal has 14 domestic and 14 international check-in counters, and two arrival areas for domestic and international flights, each with two baggage conveyors. The airport currently serves seven airlines and handles between three and four million passengers annually.

The airport is connected to Davao City via the Carlos P. Garcia National Highway, and the La Verna-Mamay Bypass Road, which was constructed to reduce traffic congestion. The planned Davao City Expressway will further connect the airport to the city and is expected to be completed in 2026.

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