Loakan airport may open for commercial flights by December 2022

Photo Courtesy || PAL

Cordillera - Baguio city's Loakan airport may soon catering domestic flights starting in December this year pending the complete rehabilitation and upgrading of the airport.

Department of Transportation (DoTr) assured to the city government officials the rehabilitation and upgrading of the airport to meet the requirements needed to operate domestic flights.

According to DoTr and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a P68 million budget will be allocated for the rehabilitation of the airport terminal and installing of Instrument Landing System (ILS) that guides the pilots maneuver the planes in and out of the airport even during bad weather conditions.

CAAP will also upgrading the runway by extending the length by at least 100 meters and putting up drainage system. 

They will also clearing out 35 natural obstructions that were determined to be inside the buffer zone.

The city government has reminded residents within the airport's buffer zone to voluntarily remove their structures or let the city government to demolish them. 

Some 110 structures within the declared 150-meter buffer zone of the Loakan airport were already issued the demolition notices by the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) as part of the local government’s efforts to free the airport from obstructions that will pave the way for its opening for commercial operation, according to Baguio - PIO.

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Baguio city readies opening of Loakan airport for commercial flights

Photo Courtesy || PAL Wikipedia

Cordillera - The opening of the Loakan airport for commercial flights to facilitate easier and more convenient way for tourists to visit the Baguio is nearing its realization. 

The city government is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for the opening of the airport to resolve and address flight safety issues. 

Last month, an airline company has conducted test flight from Manila to the only airport of Baguio city to prepare for the resumption of commercial flights.

The city has started evaluating and assessing safety requirements of the airport such as constructing an alternative road at the western part of the airport to permanently close the road used by pedestrian and motorists.

Police from Station 4 and personnel from the Aviation Security Group were tasked to provide traffic assistance during flights.

Required traffic signages at the airport are also being put in place and trimming of trees besides the airport is being done by the City Environment and Parks Management Office.

READ ALSO:  Philippine Black Hawks landed in Loakan airport for the very first time

Baguio city mayor Benjamin Magalong is hopeful that the opening of the Loakan airport for commercial flight will help in reviving the tourism industry of the city.

"The resumption of flights... will play a key role in convincing high-end tourists to prioritize Baguio City as one their preferred destination," Magalong said.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has opened up its interest in providing Manila-Baguio and Baguio-Manila for tourists.

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Philippine Airlines (PAL) purchased 5 planes for domestic flight to Loakan airport

Photo Courtesy || Wikipedia

Cordillera - Tourists who want to visit Baguio by plane do not wait any longer, as the city is working hard to open the Loakan airport for domestic flights.

The time has come for the local government to move forward with the plan of developing and reopening the Loakan Airport. 

This would allow easier way for tourist to get to the summer capital of the Philippines.

In fact, none other than Mayor Benjamin Magalong stated that Philippine flag carrier PAL Express has already bought five aircraft that could fly to and from Loakan Airport. 

The mayor also added that even Cebu Pacific had also informed him of their plan to open domestic flights to Loakan.

The Loakan Airport is classified as class 2 principal airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and has been closed to commercial flights since 2009. 

The airport only serves chartered and military flights as of this moment.

READ ALSO: San Miguel Corp. President Ramon Ang offered to build elevated highway around Baguio City

Earlier, the city government tapped the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to shell out P160 Million for the takeover and redevelopment of the airport.

The funds will be used to renovate and upgrade the airport into "an all weather commercial airport".

With the plan to open the airport for domestic flights, there are significant benefits for both business in the region and to increase the number of tourist arrivals in the Cordillera.

READ ALSO: WATCH: Amazing Baguio featured on CNN Philippines' Building Bridges TV program

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Philippine Airlines (PAL) eyes to serve flights to-and-from Baguio

Cordillera - Visitors who want to visit the summer capital of the Philippines for a vacation may soon have the option to go by plane as soon as the Loakan airport re-opens for airlines. 

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has expressed its willingness to open flight to-and-from Baguio once the Loakan airport is going to be rehabilitated and reopened.

According to a report from Inquirer, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia relayed what the Civil Aviation of the Philippines (CAAP) said that the Loakan airport "needs improvements for safety purposes" before it can be used for commercial flights. 

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Pernia said that PAL is willing to open it's flights to the country's summer capital once the Loakan airport reopens and when CAAP gives the go signal to operate. 

The opening of the Loakan airport could reduce the travel time going to Baguio from Manila and vice versa. 

Currently, the travel time from Manila to Baguio by land is five to to eight hours considering traffic on the road compared to around 45 minutes if by plane.

The Loakan Airport is classified as class 2 principal airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and has been closed to commercial flights since 2009. The airport only serves chartered and military flights as of this moment.

With the plan of improving the airport to be able to accommodate commercial flights  presents considerable benefits for both businesses in the region as well as increase tourist arrivals in the Cordillera. 

The initial study conducted by RDC in 2013 had shown that the airport would not need  redesigning aside from the widening work to be made on its tarmac from the current 40 meters to 60 meters.

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Plan to develop and operate Loakan Airport for commercial flights mulled

As the number of tourists going to the city of Baguio and the Cordillera region is growing, it is high time for the local government to push forward with the plan of developing and reopening the Loakan Airport to facilitate easier and more convenient way to get to the summer capital of the Philippines.

In fact, no other than Baguio city mayor Mauricio Domogan has brought the topic to the member of the Luzon group of the Regional Development Council (RDC) to the call of getting government agencies to prioritize the reopening of the said airport. 

The Loakan Airport is classified as class 2 principal airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and has been closed to commercial flights since 2009. The airport only serves chartered and military flights as of this moment.

With the plan of improving the airport to be able to accommodate commercial flights will present considerable benefits for both businesses in the region and also increase tourist arrivals in the Cordillera. 

The initial study conducted by RDC in 2013 have shown that the airport would not need a redesigned but only a widening work to be made on its tarmac from current 40 meters to 60 meters.

With the opening of the ASEAN and the government initiative of pursuing Chinese tourist to come into the country, the city and its nearby provinces have a lot of tourist spots to offer to visitors. Having an efficient and working airport will definitely increase the number of tourist arrival to the city. 

The opening of the Loakan airport would also reduce significantly the travel time for travelers coming in and going out of Baguio especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) going to Ninoy Aquino International Aiport (NAIA).

During the Luzon RDC chairperson meeting there were seven members of the committee who expressed their support to the said plan. 

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