Owais Crawford
The city of Baguio in the Philippines is served by Loakan Airport (IATA: BAG, ICAO: RPUB), its only airport, which is located about 7 km south of the Baguio City Hall. The airport was built in 1934 by the American colonial government and was the first destination of Philippine Airlines' maiden flight in 1941. However, it was closed to commercial flights in the 1990s due to navigational challenges posed by its short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway. Despite this, the airport remained open for military and chartered flights. After several attempts to revive the airport for commercial flights, it finally reopened on December 16, 2022, with Philippine Airlines operating the first regular commercial flight in decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Loakan Airport |
| Airport Code | BAG |
| Airport Classification | Class 2 principal (minor domestic) airport |
| Airport Authority | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) |
| Location | 7 KM south of the Baguio City Hall, in front of Burnham Park |
| Year of Construction | 1934 |
| Commercial Flight Operations | Closed in the 1990s due to navigational difficulties; reopened on December 16, 2022, with flights to Cebu; closed again on July 1, 2024, due to insufficient passenger demand |
| Military and Chartered Flights | Operational |
| Airlines | Philippine Airlines, PAL Express (domestic subsidiary of Philippine Airlines) |
| Destinations | Cebu, Puerto Princesa |
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What You'll Learn
Loakan Airport is Baguio's only airport
Loakan Airport has a short runway and deep ravines at both ends, which, along with frequent low visibility, challenge pilots, especially during landing. The airport was closed to commercial flights in the 1990s due to navigational difficulties and safety concerns. However, it remained open for military and private aircraft, as well as chartered flights.
There have been several attempts to revive the airport for commercial flights over the years. It briefly reopened for commercial operations on December 16, 2022, with Philippine Airlines operating the first regular commercial flight to the airport in decades. Unfortunately, the route between Baguio and Cebu was discontinued on July 1, 2024, due to insufficient passenger demand.
Loakan Airport has a significant history, including the first flight of Philippine Airlines in 1941 and several aircraft crashes. It also played a role during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, with the airfield being occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army and later recaptured by the United States Army.
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The airport was closed to commercial flights in the 1990s
Baguio, a city in the Philippines' highlands, is served by the Loakan Airport (IATA: BAG, ICAO: RPUB). The airport, located about 7 km south of the Baguio City Hall, was built in 1934 by the American colonial government. It was the first destination of Philippine Airlines' (PAL) maiden flight in 1941. However, the airport faced challenges due to its short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway, making landings particularly difficult for pilots.
Despite these challenges, the airport continued to operate. In 1952, a Philippine Airlines DC-3 crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in 10 fatalities out of 29 occupants. Later, in 1987, a Philippine Airlines flight crashed into the slopes of Mt. Ugo during a monsoon, tragically killing all 50 people on board. Despite these incidents, the airport remained operational.
In the 1990s, the airport was closed to commercial flights due to navigational difficulties. During this period of closure, it remained open for military and chartered flights. There were attempts to revive commercial operations, with plans announced in 2012 and 2015 to reopen the airport for such flights. In 2020, the city government of Baguio considered a deal with San Miguel Corporation to open and operate the airport, but protests from residents with legitimate land titles in the area posed challenges.
Finally, on December 16, 2022, the Loakan Airport reopened for commercial flights, with Philippine Airlines operating the first regular commercial flight to and from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. However, this route was short-lived, and on July 1, 2024, the Baguio-Cebu route was suspended due to insufficient passenger demand.
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It reopened for commercial flights in December 2022
Loakan Airport, the only airport in Baguio, resumed commercial operations on December 16, 2022, after being closed to commercial flights since the 1990s. The airport, located about 7 km south of the Baguio City Hall, was built in 1934 by the American colonial government and is classified as a Class 2 principal (minor domestic) airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
The resumption of commercial flights at Loakan Airport was highly anticipated, with numerous entities announcing plans to revive the airport over the years. There were attempts to reopen the airport for commercial flights in 2012 and 2015, but it wasn't until December 2022 that regular commercial flights resumed. Philippine Airlines, operated by PAL Express, launched the first regular commercial flight on the day of the reopening, flying between Baguio and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the Visayas region.
The Baguio-Cebu route, which was serviced by PAL Express, offered travellers a convenient way to travel between the highlands and one of the best beach destinations in the Philippines. The airline used a De Havilland Dash 8-400 New Generation aircraft, known for its quieter cabin, for this route. However, due to insufficient passenger demand, the route was suspended as of July 1, 2024.
Despite the suspension of the Baguio-Cebu route, Loakan Airport continues to serve as a gateway to the city of Baguio and the surrounding area. The airport is known for its challenging conditions for pilots due to its short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway. Visitors travelling to Baguio can opt for a Baguio transfer, which can be booked in advance, or hail a taxi to reach the airport from their hotel.
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The airport has a short runway and frequent low visibility
The Loakan Airport (IATA: BAG, ICAO: RPUB) is the only airport in Baguio, Philippines. It was built in 1934 by the American colonial government and is classified as a Class 2 principal (minor domestic) airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
The airport has a short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway, presenting significant challenges for pilots, especially during landing. These factors, along with its location in the highlands, have contributed to a history of crashes and navigational difficulties.
The short runway at Loakan Airport restricts the types of aircraft that can safely operate there. Smaller planes are better suited to the limited runway length, while larger commercial aircraft may struggle to take off and land within the available distance. The short runway also reduces the airport's capacity and increases the risk of accidents, particularly in low-visibility conditions.
Frequent low visibility at the airport is likely due to several factors, including its location in the highlands, where clouds and fog can form more easily, and the region's weather patterns, which are characterised by monsoon rains and frequent typhoons. These conditions can make it difficult for pilots to see the runway and navigate their aircraft safely, increasing the risk of accidents and contributing to flight delays and cancellations.
The combination of a short runway and frequent low visibility means that pilots must be highly skilled and experienced to operate at Loakan Airport safely. Instrumental approaches and advanced navigation systems may be required to guide aircraft accurately during low-visibility conditions. Additionally, the airport may need to implement strict procedures and protocols to ensure safe operations, such as implementing minimum visibility requirements for take-off and landing and providing specialised training for pilots operating at the airport.
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Baguio is a city in the Philippines' highlands
Baguio is accessible by car or bus from Manila and other Luzon destinations. The city's airport, Loakan Airport (IATA: BAG, ICAO: RPUB), is located about 7 km south of the Baguio City Hall, in front of Burnham Park. Loakan Airport is the only airport serving Baguio and was built in 1934 by the American colonial government. It was the first destination of Philippine Airlines' maiden flight in 1941, but it eventually closed to commercial flights in the 1990s due to navigational challenges. The short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway make it a challenging airport for pilots. During its closure to commercial flights, Loakan Airport remained open for military and private aircraft.
There have been several attempts to reopen the airport for commercial flights. In December 2022, the airport resumed operations with Philippine Airlines launching the first regular commercial flight in decades to and from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. However, the route was discontinued in July 2024 due to insufficient passenger demand. As of December 2024, there are still plans to revive the airport for commercial operations, with various entities expressing interest over the years.
Baguio offers a range of tourist attractions, including the popular Burnham Park, and the city's cool climate makes it a comfortable destination for walking and outdoor activities. Visitors are advised to pack layers, including jackets and comfortable sneakers, to adapt to the colder weather.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the city of Baguio in the Philippines has its own airport called the Loakan Airport (IATA: BAG, ICAO: RPUB). It is located about 7 KM south of the Baguio City Hall in front of Burnham Park.
The Loakan Airport was built in 1934 by the American colonial government and the first flight of Philippine Airlines landed at the airport in 1941. The airport was closed to commercial flights in the 1990s due to navigational difficulties but continued to be open for military and chartered flights. The airport reopened for commercial flights on December 16, 2022, with flights to and from Cebu. However, the route was suspended on July 1, 2024, due to insufficient passenger demand.
Loakan Airport is classified as a Class 2 principal (minor domestic) airport and presents several challenges for pilots due to its short runway, frequent low visibility, and deep ravines at both ends of the runway, especially during landing.
