The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is targeting to have eight more airports in the country night-rated beginning this year 2019.
“While maintaining safety in aviation, the Authority is also continuously upgrading and working towards the night rating of several airports expected to be completed by 2019-2021,” said CAAP Media and Communications Office chief and spokesperson Eric Apolonio.
According to Apolonio, the airports in Naga, Tuguegarao, Cotabato, Bohol-Panglao, Cauayan, Dipolog, Ozamiz and Pagadian Airport are among the facilities whose night rating are currently being processed.
Equipping airports with night-rating capabilities will allow the facilities to accommodate flights even after sunset, which will help provide air travelers with flight options.
Before, several domestic flights departing Manila are being crammed during the daytime because of the inability of many provincial airports to receive flights at night, contributing to the jamming of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which has only two runways handling both international and domestic flights.
Provincial airports which were unable to operate at night also have to send out all their Manila-bound flights during the day.
As of November 30, 2018, the country has 18 airports capable of night operations, allowing the facilities to operate for longer hours and enabling these gateways to service more flights, passengers, and cargo.
These airports include NAIA, Clark International Airport, Davao International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Laoag International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, General Santos International Airport, Zamboanga International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Butuan Airport, Laguindingan Airport, Tacloban Airport, Roxas Airport, Dumaguete Airport, Caticlan Airport, and Legazpi Airport (with limitations).
“Since becoming an independent regulatory body in 2008, CAAP has strived hard to improve the country’s aviation sector,” said Apolonio.
Also last year, CAAP — in its mission to connect the Philippine Islands through aviation, and to make air transport more available and convenient to Filipinos — launched a number of projects, including the new Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) System Complex.
The agency also inaugurated new airports such as Lal-lo Airport on March 14, San Vicente Airport on May 10, and Bohol-Panglao International Airport on Nov. 27.
Aside from opening new airports, the CAAP also inaugurated new passenger terminal building (PTBs) for Tuguegarao Airport on March 14, Daniel Z. Romualdez (Tacloban) Airport on March 16, Virac Airport on June 1, and Maasin Airport on July 2.
“CAAP also looks forward and upward to 2019 as it prepares for more project completion and inaugurations. PTBs in Busuanga Airport, Camiguin Airport, Catarman Airport, Marinduque Airport, Ormoc Airport, Ipil Airport, Mati Airport, and Siargao Airport will soon be opened,” said Apolonio.
Apart from maximizing airport operations, upgrading airport facilities shall likewise help decongest the airport in Manila, he added.
“We want our passengers to have an option to travel either in the morning or at night. This will also help us decrease airport congestion in Metro Manila, “ said Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Transportation undersecretary for aviation and airports.
In 2018, the government set aside total of P10.1 billion in fresh funding to modernize the infrastructures of 40 airports, with Clark International Airport getting the biggest slice of P2.74 billion.
