10 Important Airports in the Philippines

The Philippines is an estival and ecstatic nation to visit- with beaches, rocks, and islands. For the same, it is very well connected with the world and promotes easy travel. Almost every region has an airport within 50 km, along with shuttle services and buses. The Philippines has 45 commercial airports, and some of the major ones are mentioned here:

1. Clark International Airport (CRK)

Clark International Airport is one of the busiest and major airports in the Philippines. It is located within the Clark Freeport Zone, serving the Manila Metropolitan Area and the Central and Northern Luzon region. The establishment of this airport goes back to 1902, starting as a military base. Now, it serves as an international passenger airport with a footfall of over 2 million people. The airport is undergoing an expansion project for four new terminals that are expected to finish by 2025. Presently, this airport serves Asiana Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, and more.

Address: Clark International Airport, Andres Bonifacio Avenue, Clark Freeport, Zone, 2023 Pampanga, Philippines
Location: 10 km north of Angeles City and 98 km south of Manila City
Terminals: It has one operating terminal as of January 2021. Terminal 2 is expected to begin by mid-2021
Services and facilities: Rental cars and taxis, Shuttle and bus services, duty-free stores, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops. 

2. Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (commonly known as NAIA) is one of the Philippines' prime airports. It was inaugurated in 1937 as Manila's first commercial airport. Since then, it has been upgraded several times, and in 2018, it served 45,082,544 passengers, breaking the annual average passenger record. It facilitates both domestic and international flights, including the following airlines: Air China, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Philippines Airlines, Qatar Airways, SkyJet, Thai Airlines.

Address: Pasay, 1300 Metro Manila, Philippines
Location: It is situated about 15 km from Metro Manila. It takes up to forty minutes to reach the city and vice versa
Terminals: It has four terminals serving international and domestic airlines respectively
Services and Facilities: ATMs, Bank Branches, Currency Exchange Kiosks, Free Wi-fi, Duty-free shops, food and concession stands, and baby care facilities. Terminals 1,2 and 3 have individual airport lounges as well. 

3. Mactan-Cebu Airport (CEB)

Mactan-Cebu Airport is the second busiest international airport after NAIA. It was built as an emergency airport in 1956 on Mactan Island. Through the years, it became a passenger airport with terminal additions and upgrades. It serves Cebu city and the neighbouring region around the island. Currently, it holds up to 12 million passengers annually. It facilitates more than 20 airlines for its customers, including Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Air Busan.

Address: Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
Location: Cebu City is around 28 km from the airport. It takes up to an hour to reach the city via taxi.
Terminals: There are two terminals at the airport - Terminal 1 serves domestic airlines and Terminal 2 serves international airlines
Services and Facilities: Currency Exchange Kiosks, ATMs, massage services, pharmacy, duty-free shopping, and concession stands. The airport also has various lounges, along with a hotel at Terminal 2 known as Aerotel Cebu. 

4. Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO)

Francisco Bangoy International Airport, commonly known as Davao International Airport, is the prime airport serving Davao City on Mindanao. It was established in 1940 with a terminal constructed as huts. The huts still stand, but the use is minimalized. This airport has both domestic and international airlines, serving the Davao del Sur Region. It facilitates Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Philippines Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Silk Air, Xiamen Air, and Garuda Indonesia.

Address: Daang Maharlika Highway, Buhangin, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur, Philippines
Location: Davao city is around 32 km from Davao Airport. You can hail a cab or use public transport to reach downtown Davao within an hour
Terminals: It has one terminal facilitating both international and domestic flights
Services and Facilities: Currency Exchange Kiosks, ATMs, duty-free shopping, food and concession stands, and souvenir shops. The airport also has lounges available for overnight layovers. 

5. Puerto Princesa Airport (PPS)

Puerto Princesa Airport serves the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is the main gateway for this city and to the Puerto Princesa Underground Rives- a prime tourist spot in Palawan. It was built in 1942 during the Second World War to accommodate aircraft. That old terminal now serves as an additional parking space for the main passenger terminal. It is one of the Philippines' most liked airports, serving airlines such as Air Juan, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Philippine AirAsia, and Royal Air Philippines.

Address: Rizal Avenue, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, 5300 Palawan, Philippines
Location: The airport is only 5 km away from Puerto Princesa
Terminal: It facilitates one terminal for both international and domestic airlines
Service and Facilities: Rental cars and taxis, Shuttle and bus services, duty-free stores, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops. It also accommodates airport lounges for spending any free time in comfort.

6. Laguindingan Airport (CGY)

Address: Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
Location: The airport is located about 40 km northwest of Cagayan de Oro. It takes about an hour to reach the city via taxi.
Terminal: It has one terminal facilitating domestic and international flights
Services and Facilities: Rental cars and taxis, Shuttle and bus services, duty-free stores, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops. 

7. Bacolod-Silay Airport (BCD)

Bacolod-Silay Airport is the prime airport serving the Bacolod Metropolitan Area. It is more of a domestic airport, handling up to 1.7 million passengers annually since its inauguration in 2007. It has considerably less international traffic. This airport is the perfect choice for visiting Negros Islands in the Philippines. It serves Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Philippine AirAsia.

Address: Airport Road, Silay City, 6116 Negros Occidental, Philippines
Location: It is located about 17 km north of Metro Bacolod. It takes about forty-five minutes to reach the city
Terminal: It has one terminal for all flights
Services and Facilities: Rental cars and taxis, Shuttle and bus services, duty-free stores, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops.

8. Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (TAC)

More popularly known as the Tacloban Airport, this place is a landmark for human strength and the ability to stand together during tough times. In 2013, Tacloban Airport was hit by Tycoon Haiyan, rendering it unusable. Joining hands and power, it was reconstructed, and in 2017, it was named the third-fastest growing airport in the Philippines. It serves both international and domestic flights, mainly down Tacloban city, on Leyte Island. Flights from Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Philippine AirAsia are usually the norm here.

Address: Airport Road, Tacloban City, 6500 Leyte, Philippines
Location: It is located up to 13 km southeast of Tacloban, taking about half an hour to reach by taxi
Terminal: It has one terminal for international and domestic flights
Services and Facilities: Rental cars and taxis, duty-free stores, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops.

9. Iloilo International Airport (ILO)

Iloilo Airport is the main airport serving the province of Iloilo in the Philippines. It is known by different names based on the areas connected to- Santa Barbara Airport, Cabatuan Airport, and Iloilo Airport. It is a reasonably new airport, inaugurated in 2007, and is known for its fast-paced growth, design, and structure. It has a classy passenger terminal and is facilitated by flights from airlines such as Air Juan, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine AirAsia.

Address:  Iloilo Airport Access Road, Cabatuan 5031, Iloilo, Philippines
Location: It is located about 20 km north of Iloilo City
Terminal: It has one terminal for international and domestic airlines
Services and Facilities: Rental cars and taxis, duty-free stores, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops.

10. Zamboanga Airport (ZAM)

Zamboanga Airport is the busiest domestic airport in the Philippines. It does facilitate international flights but is mainly known for domestic travel up to Zamboanga City or Basilan Island. It mostly handles nation airlines like Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Philippine AirAsia.

Address: 31 Gov Camins Ave, Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines
Location: It is located at merely a distance of 3 km
Terminal: It has one terminal for domestic flights
Services and Facilities: Taxis, restaurants and cafes, ATMs, and souvenir shops.