Davao International Airport

One of the busiest airports here in the Philippines and the busiest in the Mindanao area is the Davao International Airport, which is also known today as Francisco Bangoy International Airport. It is translated in Filipino (common language in the Philippines) as “Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Dabaw” or “Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Francisco Bangoy” and translated in Cebuano (dialect) as “Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Dabaw“ or “Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Francisco Bangoy”.

The Davao International Airport is a public airport operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. It is located in Barangay Sasa, Buhangin, Davao and it mainly serves the area of Davao City. This airport is the hub for Cebu Pacific and Airphil Express. It has an elevation AMSL (above mean sea level) of 18 meters (59 feet). Its precision runway has a direction of 05/23 with a length of 3,000 meters (9842 feet) and the surface is asphalt concrete which can handle wide-bodied aircraft such as the Airbus A330, the Airbus A340, Boeing 747 and even Airbus A38.

The advance facility is intended to handle about 2 million passengers per annum and 84,600 tons of cargo yearly. The extra capacity is also complemented by the newest navigational, security, and baggage handling equipment. In the 2009 statistics, there were already 1,967,950 passengers, 19,198 aircraft movements and 34,257 metric tons of cargo.

Davao International Airport

The Davao International Airport new terminals replaced the previous airport terminals, which is situated just across it. The terminal now handles both international and domestic flights operating to and from Davao. The modernization and upgrading of the airport facilities aimed to strengthen Davao as a center for tourism and foreign investments in the province. Improvement was funded by a forty million-dollar loan from the Asian Development Bank, co-financed by the European Investment Bank for twenty-five million ECUs, and through budgetary allocations from the government. The total cost of the project amounted to $128 million. After almost 10 years, the new terminal was finally inaugurated on December 2, 2003. Preliminary assembly began in 2000 while strategies for construction were announced in 1992. On November 12, 2007, Cebu Pacific announced the Davao International Airport as its third hub.

Despite the fact that Davao International Airport is dubbed as “international”, it currently services only one international destination which is Singapore currently served by SilkAir. However, there are infrequent chartered flights to Davao from Manado, Indonesia by Wings Air and Davao from Seoul, South Korea by Jeju Air. Cebu Pacific used to serve Davao-Hong Kong and Singapore, but these flights have been discontinued in 2009. Many from Davao are now hoping that local airline companies will once again serve international flights to and from Davao.

Recently an Executive Order of Pocket Open Skies Policy is now being reviewed by the Philippine Government which would allow foreign carriers to operate at Davao International Airport.

Airlines and Destinations

Airphil Express – Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Manila, Zamboanga (Temporary)
Cebu Pacific – Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo, Manila, Zamboanga
Philippine Airlines – Manila
SilkAir – Singapore
Zest Airways – Manila

Transportation outside the airport

Jeepneys ply from Barangay Buhangin, Sasa where the Davao International Airport is located to Davao’s city center where tourist attractions including San Pedro Cathedral nearby Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Dabaw, and Museo Dabawenyo are located. The jeepney fare is about P15 per person. Taxis are available inside and outside the airport 24 hours a day. Taxi fare from the airport going to the city center is about P100-P150.

Baggage Area

Check-in counters

Durian Sculpture outside the Airport

Entrance gate of Davao International Airport

Inside the Davao International Airport Terminal

Mark and Lisa enjoying inside the aircraft of Cebu Pacific Air

Outside the passenger terminal

Preparing an aircraft for boarding

Taxi stand outside the terminal

The Airport's Terminal

Tourist Information Area

Waiting shed

Road going to the Airport's Carpark

About the author

Mark Anthony Maranga is an Educator-Parent to his 3 Homeschooling Kids. He sells Ice Cream and Balloons in Mandaue City, Cebu. Exploring the Philippines tourist attractions together with his family is his passion; they are learning without borders.