Philippines Biggest Domestic Carrier

25 February 2026

Philippine's Biggest Domestic Carrier in 2025
RANK	CARRIER	PASSENGERS
1	Cebu Pacific	16,196,378
2	PAL Express	8,386,412
3	Phil. Air Asia	4,596,488
4	CEBGo	2,055,133
5	Philippine Airlines	1,345,011
6	AirSwift	429,222
7	Sunlight	167,252
8	Royal Air	56,670
9	Island Aviation (Soriano)	11,889
TOTAL		33,244,455

 

ICAO International Standard Airports In The Philippines

13 February 2026 

There are fourteen commercial airports in the country that meet the required international airport standards according to airside and landside requirements of Annex 14 of the Chicago Convention, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Thursday. The rest of the airports are within the minimum standards set by CAAP for commercial jet airport operations in the country.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez in a Memorandum to CAAP has ordered that all non-international standard commercial airports across the country must have a minimum runway length of 2,100 meters to accommodate jet aircraft operations, except those with topographical constraints.

The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make domestic travel more affordable and to encourage tourism in the country’s top destinations.

ICAO STANDARD AIRPORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
NO	AIRPORT	CODE
1	NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL APT	MNL
2	MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL APT	CEB
3	FRANCISCO BANGOY INTERNATIONAL APT	DVO
4	CLARK INTERNATIONAL APT	CRK
5	ILOILO INTERNATIONAL APT	ILO
6	KALIBO INTERNATIONAL APT	KLO
7	PUERTO PRINCESA INTERNATIONAL APT	PPS
8	BACOLOD-SILAY APT	BCD
9	LAGUINDINGAN APT	CGY
10	SUBIC BAY INTERNATIONAL APT	SFS
11	CATICLAN APT	MPH
12	TACLOBAN APT	TAC
13	GENERAL SANTOS APT	GES
14	PANGLAO INTERNATIONAL APT	TAG
14	BICOL INTERNATIONAL APT	DRP
CAA STANDARD AIRPORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
1	ZAMBOANGA APT	ZAM
2	LAOAG APT	LAO
3	DUMAGUETE APT	DTE
4	BUSUANGA APT	USU
5	OZAMIZ APT	OZA
6	COTABATO APT	COT
7	ROXAS APT	RXS
8	DIPOLOG APT	DPL
9	TUGUEGARAO APT	TUG
10	PAGADIAN APT	PAG
11	BUTUAN APT	BXU
12	CAUAYAN APT	CYZ
13	VIRAC APT	VRC
14	BONGAO APT	TWT
15	SAN JOSE APT (New)	EUQ
DOTr Central Office

Philippine Airlines ranked as the most on-time airline in the Asia-Pacific for 2025

 6 January 2027

FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) was named for the first time as the most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region for 2025, posting an on-time arrival rate of 83.12%, according to global aviation analytics firm Cirium.

2026 Approved Aviation Transport Infrastructure Program

 January 5, 2026

7.8b Airport Infrastructure Project for 2026 

 

PAL Takes 1st 35k In SEA

 20 December 2025

Philippine Airlines (PAL) newly acquired plane landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at exactly 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, making the Philippine flag carrier the first airline in Southeast Asia to operate Airbus’ newest-generation wide-body aircraft, the A350-1000(msn 758 F-WZFZ / RP-C3510), and the 10th airline in the world to operate the type. 

The arrival followed a formal delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, in December 12, 2025, led by PAL Holdings Inc. President Lucio Tan III, alongside senior executives including Board Adviser Kyle Tan, PAL President Richard Nuttall, and EVP and COO Carlos Luis Fernandez. 

The aircraft is the first of nine A350-1000s ordered in 2023 as part of PAL’s long-term fleet expansion. Airbus, notably, has been PAL’s partner for more than four decades. 

Designed primarily for PAL’s transpacific routes, the aircraft features a spacious tri-class cabin for up to 382 passengers: 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 316 in Economy, powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines—each delivering up to 97,000 pounds of thrust It cuts fuel burn and carbon emissions by up to 25 percent versus older-generation aircraft and is certified to operate on sustainable aviation fuel. 

PAL becomes the first full service carrier to operate the A350-1000 in high density configuration.

PAL Inaugurates CEB-GUM

 20 December 2025

UAE Expands ASA With PHI

16 November 2025

The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates has successfully concluded Air Consultation Talks held on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025, granting the UAE seven (7) additional weekly flight entitlements, allowing UAE low cost carrier Fly Dubai to operate flights to Manila beginning next year.

 

The airtalks was headed by The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE represented by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, while the Philippine delegation was led by Undersecretary Jim C. Sydiongco of the Department of Transportation.

 

Also in the talks were Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB); Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Alfonso A. Ver, Assistant Secretary Edgar B. Badajos of the Department of Foreign Affairs; Assistant Secretary Judilyn S. Quiachon of the Department of Tourism; and Atty. Florence P. Daquioag-Bual of the Department of Labor and Employment. 

 

Representatives from CAAP, CAB, DOT, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Mactan–Cebu International Airport Authority, and Luzon International Premiere Airport Development also joined the discussions.

 

The Philippines previously granted 28 weekly flights, or about 22,700 weekly seats, between the Philippines capital airport and Dubai International airport from 2021 to 2025, and unlimited flights from Dubai to the Philippines major international airports. All flights were taken by Emirates Airlines.

 

The new flight entitlements shall become effective next year.

 

Air passenger volume to Dubai jumped by 21% in the first nine months, as international travelers surged by 40%, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Data from CAB showed that overall passenger volume grew by 21.2% to 44.09 million for the January-to-September period, prompting Emirates Airlines which owns 4/5 rights from Dubai to  signed an interline agreement with Philippine flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to boost seats and connectivity for both airlines through the sharing of networks. Qatar Airways made similar arrangements with PAL to boost seats and connectivity.

 

During the discussions, UAE wanted increase of additional 14 flights but the Philippine delegation approved only 7 more flights until 2029. 

 

The talks also covered broader issues related to bilateral air entitlements, operational coordination, and opportunities to streamline air transport arrangements in support of growing passenger and cargo demand.

Sunlight Flies Siquijor

 15 December 2025

 

Boutique airline Sunlight Air flies inaugural flight from Cebu to Siquijor with ATR72-600 turboprop plane. The airline flies 2R875 four times a week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday leaving Mactan at 10:20am arriving Siquijor at 11:10am, with return flight 2R876 leaving at 11:40pm arriving Cebu at 12:40pm. Sunlight Air also operates flights from Manila and Clark to and from Cebu and from there to Boracay, Siargao, Cagayan de Oro and Coron.