Bicol International Airport Pankinàban na Palayogan kan Bikol Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Bikol | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines | ||||||||||
| Serves | Legazpi | ||||||||||
| Location | Daraga,Albay,Philippines | ||||||||||
| Opened | October 8, 2021; 4 years ago (2021-10-08) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 95 m / 313 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 13°06′44″N123°40′38″E / 13.11222°N 123.67722°E /13.11222; 123.67722 | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  DRP/RPLK .svg) DRP/RPLK .svg) DRP/RPLK | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Source: CAAP[1] | |||||||||||
Bicol International Airport (IATA:DRP,ICAO:RPLK), also referred by some sources asSouthern Luzon International Airport, is anairport serving the vicinity ofLegazpi, the capital city ofAlbay and the regional center ofBicol Region, in thePhilippines. Dubbed as the Philippines' "Most Scenic Gateway",[2] the airport is located inDaraga, a municipality adjacent to Legazpi City. The₱4.7 billion project is on a 200-hectare (490-acre) plateau 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) fromMayon Volcano. It replaced the oldLegazpi Airport, which is only 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.9 mi) from the BIA.[3]
First planned in 1996 and with initial construction beginning in 2008, the airport was finally inaugurated on October 7, 2021. It was designed to handle an estimated 2.2 million passengers every year.[3] While the airport is billed as aninternational airport, it is classified as Class 1 principaldomestic airport by theCivil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.[4]
Plans for an international airport in Legazpi started in 1996.[5] In 1997, a study commissioned by theJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) indicated the need for expansion at four airports in the Philippines: namelyLegazpi Airport,Bacolod City Domestic Airport,Mandurriao Airport inIloilo City andDaniel Z. Romualdez Airport inTacloban.[6]
On March 4 and 5, 2006, officials in Daraga, where the airport would be constructed, discussed with thebarangay captains and Leaders of barangays Alobo, Inarado, Kinawitan, Burgos, Martos territory, Velasco Hacienda, and Mabini over the conversion of agricultural lands into industrial lands for the airport. It is estimated to occupy at least 200 hectares (490 acres) of land, and many families could be displaced from the construction. It will be the first international airport to be built inBicolandia and, according to Daraga Mayor Gerry Rodrigueza Jaucian, would be a testament to economic growth in the region and of the dreams ofBicolanos, as shown in the following excerpt from theManila Times: "We’re grateful to the President for fulfilling the Bicolanos’ dream to have an international airport. This is the realization of our quest to become one of the booming regions in the country."[7]
In July 2007, ordered the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC; now simplyDepartment of Transportation), to fast-track the paperwork on the planned new airport.[8] Then-PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo released₱85 million for its advance engineering study.[9] Tourism secretaryAce Durano has assured the allotment of₱250 million for the purchase of land.
The airport was originally scheduled for completion in 2014.[10] However, due to a construction delay, the project was expected to be finished at an unspecified date before 2016.[11] In June 2015, it was reported that the construction is 47% done and would be finished in July 2017,[12] but in July 2016 it was reported that the construction would be delayed further and would be finished in August 2018.[13]
In September 2012, theDepartment of Budget and Management released₱4.6 billion to support the public-private partnership (PPP) projects of the DOTC. Of the total, the airport will receive₱2 billion to develop and fund the engineering of runways and taxiways.[14]
Construction works for the runway, taxiway, apron, and fences were mostly left uncompleted in 2012, and budget was reverted to the national treasury.
The construction was fast-tracked under theDuterte administration through theBuild! Build! Build! infrastructure program. The groundbreaking ceremony of the airport was held on December 8, 2016,[15] with the construction of landside facilities that began in the same year.[5]
On the night of September 28, 2017, people suspected to be members of theNew People's Army committedarson to 11heavy equipment that were used for the airport's construction.[16]
After a delay in construction for more than a decade, Bicol International Airport was confirmed to be 50% complete in August 2018, with construction works in the runway, taxi apron, and perimeter fence being completed.[17] By January 2020, the airport was confirmed to be 62% complete, with the airport slated for completion by July 2020.[18] However, the July 2020 completion was delayed.
_Inauguration.jpg)
The airport was inaugurated by PresidentRodrigo Duterte on October 7, 2021,[3][2] with operations commencing the following day.[19] The airport will initially handle domestic operations, while international flights were expected to start by November 7.[20][21] However, there are currently no international flights servicing the airport as of now.
The first commercial flight to land at the airport,Philippine Airlines Flight 2923 fromManila, a flight operated byPAL Express and performed by aDash 8 Q400, landed at 9:57 amPHT.[22]Cebu Pacific also started operating flights at the airport on the same day.[23] Flights operating at the airport were initially served by turboprops untilAirbus A320 flights begun on May 1, 2022. Cebu Pacific landed its first A320 flight at the airport as Flight 321 at 4:39 am PHT,[24] while PAL landed its first A320 flight as Flight 2919 later that day.[25]
The 13,680-square-meter (147,300 sq ft) passenger terminal has two levels and is designed to accommodate two million passengers annually. It features self-service check-in kiosks aside from 19 check-in counters, a lounge at the airport lobby, and twojet bridges.[26][27]
EM Cuerpo handled the construction of the passenger terminal building along with the runway extension.[28]
The airport has a single runway which is 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) long and 45 meters (148 ft) wide, running in a direction of 05°/23°.[29] The runway is longer and wider than the now-defunctLegazpi Airport, allowing larger aircraft to land at the airport.[28] Moreover, the airport is capable of operating at night.[19]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Cebgo | Cebu,Manila |
| Cebu Pacific | Cebu,Iloilo,[30]Manila |
| PAL Express | Manila |
Data from theCivil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).[1]
| Year | Passenger movements | % change | Aircraft movements | % change | Cargo movements (in kg) | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65,139 |  | 2,049 | | 144,253 | |
| 2022 | 526,742 |  708.64 | 5,790 | 182.58 | 458,698 | 217.98 |
| 2023 | 662,580 | 25.79 | 6,538 | 12.92 | 674,543 | 47.06 |