Nowhere To Go But Up

It’s No Secret That the Philippines is Infamous for Its Airports and Air Travel in General.

- Ayie Licsi

Every so often, flights get delayed or canceled. Lining up takes a whole lot of patience. And then there are scams to watch out for. The country’s main international gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), was even crowned with the “world’s worst airport” title several years back.

To cure the nation’s air transport hiccups, the government is focusing on building and improving airports outside the capital. This won’t only relieve NAIA of millions of passengers per year, it will also funnel people to other regions in the country.

As of writing, the current administration has completed 17 commercial airport projects since 2016 and has 28 more ongoing. It has already added two new international airports: the Lal-Lo International Airport in Cagayan and the Bohol-Panglao Airport.

A TOURISM BOOM

One of the most notable rehabilitated airports is the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which takes the whole air travel experience to the next level by giving tourists a taste of the region’s culture. The airport’s new Terminal 2 greets tourists Cebuano-style.

Its whole interior is inspired by Cebuano and Visayan elements. Its check-in counters are resort-themed, too. While design cues are local-themed, the airport is world-class.