13 September 2017
Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is proposing to expand Lallo airport by unveiling plans to update its 20-year old master development plan says its Administrator.
The ₱1.67-billion airport complex, a joint venture between CEZA and Cagayan Land, was opened to the public in 2015 amidst CEZA funfare of scheduled flights but to this day has not receive any domestic airlines operators nor locators.
Airport construction was started in 2009 and was inspected and tested by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in 2013 as ICAO compliant. It was opened for commercial traffic in 2016 after completion of the Passenger Terminal Building and securing aerodrome license.
CEZA Administrator and CEO Raul L. Lambino however said that there is strong demand by foreign investors of this airport ranging from aviation schools, charter flights, to aircraft maintenance and repair overhaul (MRO) operations.
Lambino earlier disclosed that they are all set to inaugurate maiden flight in August 26 between Macau and Lallo on daily basis but has since postponed before the end of the year.
This was however the same pronouncement made by its previous administrator in 2015 announcing Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific flights which to this date has never come, together with other airline companies. There is also no resident aviation related company operating at the airport site dubbed as North Cagayan International Airport.
Lallo airport recorded some 168 flights ranging from tourism, diplomatic visit, emergency and medical airlift, and less than 1,000 passengers in 2016 according to the Philippine Information Agency.
Meanwhile, local Tuguegarao airport 78 km. away are growing passengers and aircraft traffic numbers registering 186, 193 passengers in 2016 serviced by both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
The ₱1.67-billion airport complex, a joint venture between CEZA and Cagayan Land, was opened to the public in 2015 amidst CEZA funfare of scheduled flights but to this day has not receive any domestic airlines operators nor locators.
Airport construction was started in 2009 and was inspected and tested by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in 2013 as ICAO compliant. It was opened for commercial traffic in 2016 after completion of the Passenger Terminal Building and securing aerodrome license.
CEZA Administrator and CEO Raul L. Lambino however said that there is strong demand by foreign investors of this airport ranging from aviation schools, charter flights, to aircraft maintenance and repair overhaul (MRO) operations.
Lambino earlier disclosed that they are all set to inaugurate maiden flight in August 26 between Macau and Lallo on daily basis but has since postponed before the end of the year.
This was however the same pronouncement made by its previous administrator in 2015 announcing Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific flights which to this date has never come, together with other airline companies. There is also no resident aviation related company operating at the airport site dubbed as North Cagayan International Airport.
Lallo airport recorded some 168 flights ranging from tourism, diplomatic visit, emergency and medical airlift, and less than 1,000 passengers in 2016 according to the Philippine Information Agency.
Meanwhile, local Tuguegarao airport 78 km. away are growing passengers and aircraft traffic numbers registering 186, 193 passengers in 2016 serviced by both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Lallo Airport (NCIA) is very far from major cities around it where most of the potential passengers may go or come from. That's probably the reason why airline companies are skeptical about flying into this airport.
ReplyDeleteThere are rumours circulating in Cagayan province that former Senator Enrile pocketed millions from this. It's becoming clear that this project has been designed to fail, a ghost airport. The terminal is not even a 'world class international terminal.' It just looks like a small warehouse.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised. No one in their right mind (or at least with a good and legitimate business plan) would build an airport in that location. The cities (Laoag, Tuguegarao, Cauayan) and their surrounding cities and municipalities where most potential passengers could come from or go to already have their own airports which are still continuously being granted a fairly huge budget for improvement.
DeleteBetter develop and Make it as Philippine Airforce Headquarter..transfer some ofcthe FA-50 Jets and Choppers..it will be very useful for the AFP.
ReplyDeleteThere's a recently signed MOA between the PAF and Cagayan province about officially creating a forward operating base adjacent to the lal lo airport, just like the scheme in puerto princesa airport wherein it shares the runway with PAF's antonio bautista air base.
DeleteThe potential of this airport is for tourism in the northeastern part of the country. This should complement the port Irene at the tip of Sta Ana and the potential expressway going to Tuguegarao southward and Apayao and western banks of Cagayan River.
ReplyDeleteSo everyone are talking about the location of the Airport. The Lallo Airport was built to support the Port Irene as this is part of the CEZA project and not mainly for Tourism itself. Guys do you research first before making a comment.
ReplyDeleteIwish They Will build airport in aparri,cagayan
ReplyDelete