Francisco Bangoy International Airport

Airport serving Davao, Philippines

DVO/RPMD is located in Mindanao
DVO/RPMD
DVO/RPMD
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DVO/RPMD is located in Philippines
DVO/RPMD
DVO/RPMD
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Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 3,000 9,843 Asphalt concrete
Statistics (2022)
Passengers2,769,546
Increase 382.58%
Aircraft movements19,181
Increase 204.46%
Cargo (in kg)36,100,892
Increase 18.13%
Source: CAAP[1]

Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Cebuano: Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Francisco Bangoy, Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Francisco Bangoy; IATA: DVO, ICAO: RPMD), also commonly known as Davao International Airport, is the main airport serving Davao City and Davao Region in the Philippines. It is the busiest airport on the island of Mindanao and the third busiest in the Philippines in 2022.

History

Early history

The site of the airport began operations in the 1940s as Sasa Landing Field with a donation of land in barangay Sasa, located in Buhangin district of Davao City, by Don Francisco Bangoy, the then-current patriarch of an influential family that founded and settled in Davao alongside Don Jose Uyanguren. At the time it began operation, the airport merely consisted of a 1,200-meter (3,900 ft) unpaved grass runway and quonset huts serving as terminal buildings. At the time, and throughout much of the 1940s and the early 1950s, both Philippine Air Lines and the Philippine Air Force provided air service to the city.[2]

As a civil aviation airport

Old airport terminal

The Davao (Sasa) Airport was opened for civil aviation on August 25, 1958.[3] It initially consisted of a new 1,500-meter (4,900 ft) long by 30-meter (98 ft) wide concrete runway and a 200-meter (660 ft) long by 60-meter (200 ft) wide apron. The grass airstrip was later converted as a taxiway for general aviation.[4]

By 1959, the complex consisted of a small control tower and several low-rise buildings. On June 19, 1960, Republic Act No. 2762 was enacted which renamed the airport to Francisco Bangoy Airport in honor of the late Don Francisco Bangoy.[5] Right of way and access to the terminal buildings and the airport were improved through further donation of land by Paciano Bangoy, Francisco's son, during the latter stages of Paciano's gubernatorial term. In 1970, the runway was extended and widened to 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) and 36 meters (118 ft), respectively, while the apron was widened to 100 meters (330 ft). Five years later, the runway was further extended and widened to 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) and to the current 45 meters (148 ft), respectively.[4]

A new terminal designed by Filipino architect Leandro Locsin, with a capacity of one million passengers, started construction in 1976 and was completed in 1980. The project, in addition to runway expansions, was funded during the term of then-Congressman Manuel Garcia, whose congressional district covers the airport perimeter.[2] Airbus A300 operations by Philippine Airlines started on September 1, 1989, marking the first widebody service to the city. The first scheduled international passenger service started on April 29, 1992, with the inauguration of Bouraq Airlines flights to Manado, Indonesia.[4] After the launch of scheduled international flights to Davao, regular flights to Malaysia and Singapore were also commenced by Malaysia Airlines in 1996 and SilkAir in 1997, respectively.[6][7]

Expansion

Rapid growth at the airport precipitated the construction of a ₱15 million interim international terminal beside the airport's then-existing terminal,[2] and then eventually a new, larger terminal building that would consolidate the two existing terminals. In planning since 1992, construction began in 2000 and was subsequently inaugurated on December 2, 2003, with a capacity double that of the old airport terminal. The construction of the new ₱2.7 billion building was funded by both the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).[2] The modernization and upgrading of the airport facilities aim to make Davao as a hub for tourism and foreign investment in the region. Development was funded by a US$40 million loan from the ADB, co-financed by the EIB for twenty-five million ECUs, and through budgetary allocations from the government. The total cost of the project amounted to US$128 million.

As part of the modernization of the airport, the runway was once again extended to the current 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) in 2001 to accommodate future international flights.[8]

Contemporary history

On November 12, 2007, Cebu Pacific announced the airport as its third hub.[9] Likewise, Philippine Airlines announced the airport as its third hub on March 26, 2018.[10]

In June 2015, the Mindanao Development Authority plans to turn the 1980–2003 airport terminal into a trade and cultural museum.[11]

Republic Act No. 11457, also known as the Charter of the Davao International Airport Authority, was approved on August 30, 2019, creating and establishing the Davao International Airport Authority, which will manage all airports in the Davao Region, including the Francisco Bangoy International Airport.[12]

Future development

The airport was slated for upgrading in 2016, but the project was shelved.[13] In 2017, an expansion project of the airport was announced.[14] Udenna Corporation submitted an unsolicited proposal in 2018 and received the original proponent status by the Department of Transportation in that year.[13]

The expansion and upgrading project would involve the expansion of the existing passenger terminal building, landside and airside developments, construction of a parallel taxiway, and the introduction of new technologies.[13]

Structure

A night shot of the Davao airport ramp during rush hour

Terminal

The current passenger terminal is a Malay architecture-inspired building which is four times larger than the old terminal. It is a two-level terminal building with an area of approximately 65,000 square meters (700,000 sq ft). It is fully computerized, more secure and has more commercial spaces for concessionaires at approximately 9,000 square meters (97,000 sq ft) of gross leasable area. It has four (4) jetbridges for passenger boarding. It has a Flight Information Display System and closed-circuit television system complementing the terminal's security system. It is designed to handle approximately 4 million passengers annually. The added capacity is complemented by the latest navigational, security, and baggage handling equipment.[8]

The terminal has 14 domestic and 14 international check-in counters that can handle a steady flow of passenger traffic. The check-in counters are equipped with electronic weighing scales and conveyors and its baggage handling system is also computerized. It has two arrival areas, for domestic and international flights, with two baggage conveyors each. The cargo terminal building covers almost 5,580 square meters (60,100 sq ft) and can handle up to 84,600 tonnes (83,300 long tons; 93,300 short tons) of cargo annually.[8]

Runway

Runway

The airport has a single 3,000-meter (9,800 ft) long by 45-meter (148 ft) wide runway that can handle basically all passenger wide-bodied aircraft, including the Airbus A380. Complementing the runway are two (2) turning pads at each end of it, which help aircraft make a backtrack. The installation of a new instrument landing system (ILS) for both Runways 05 and 23 upgraded its compliance to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) operating category-Precision Approach Category 1. It can accommodate 8 to 10 aircraft landings per hour, depending on size and has the equivalent 9 gate holding areas for those aircraft. The airport has two dual access taxiways. Taxiways A3 and A4 are used to access the new ramp and terminal; taxiways B and C are used for access to the old airport ramp.[15]

The Antonov An-124 is, by far, the largest aircraft to land at the airport. It is the fourth largest aircraft in the world, next to the Boeing 747-8.

Other structures

Besides the main terminal building, there are also new support facilities like the administration building, airfield maintenance building, central plant building, hangar for military and training aircraft, and an ARFF building. It has an 800-slot car parking area and four slots for shuttle buses. It has a 3-megawatt (4,000 hp) standby power generator.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Cebgo Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Siargao, Zamboanga
Cebu Pacific Bacolod, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Manila, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga
PAL Express Cebu, Iloilo, Manila, Tagbilaran
Philippine Airlines Cebu, Manila
Philippines AirAsia Cebu, Manila
Qatar Airways Doha
Scoot Singapore
XiamenAir Quanzhou

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Central Airlines Shenzhen
Destination maps
class=notpageimage|
Domestic destinations from Francisco Bangoy International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
class=notpageimage|
International destinations from Francisco Bangoy International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination

Statistics

Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).[16][17]

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Annual passenger traffic at DVO airport. See Wikidata query.
Year Passenger movements Aircraft movements Cargo movements (in kg)
Domestic International Total % change Domestic International Total % change Domestic International Total % change
2001 937,751 13,306 951,057 Steady 12,730 468 13,198 Steady 39,406,667 6,844,067 46,250,734 Steady
2002 961,990 14,441 976,431 Increase 2.67 11,422 460 11,882 Decrease 9.97 44,380,469 3,519 44,383,988 Decrease 4.04
2003 742,436 13,185 755,621 Decrease 22.61 8,968 480 9,448 Decrease 20.48 30,779,223 1,654 30,780,877 Decrease 30.65
2004 1,128,653 22,573 1,151,226 Increase 52.35 11,366 634 12,000 Increase 27.01 41,972,437 — 41,972,437 Increase 36.36
2005 1,322,064 24,971 1,347,035 Increase 17.01 11,968 718 12,686 Increase 5.72 70,372,167 — 70,372,167 Increase 67.66
2006 1,307,635 34,179 1,341,814 Decrease 0.39 12,920 1,034 13,954 Increase 10.00 40,753,487 — 40,753,487 Decrease 42.09
2007 1,502,600 52,622 1,555,222 Increase 15.90 13,778 1,126 14,904 Increase 6.81 45,516,843 15,455 45,532,298 Increase 11.73
2008 1,646,347 46,530 1,692,877 Increase 8.85 15,414 780 16,194 Increase 8.66 53,287,642 14,931 53,302,573 Increase 17.0
2009 1,935,454 32,496 1,967,950 Increase 16.25 9,316 283 9,599 Decrease 40.72 34,172,210 84,429 34,256,639 Decrease 35.73
2010 2,207,684 21,493 2,229,177 Increase 13.27 9,692 219 9,911 Increase 3.25 40,568,631 63,195 40,631,826 Increase 18.61
2011 2,364,972 25,167 2,390,139 Increase 7.22 10,238 239 10,477 Increase 5.71 34,772,206 51,771 34,823,977 Decrease 14.29
2012 2,923,327 39,916 2,963,243 Increase 23.98 25,460 634 26,094 Increase 149.06 42,118,391 67,392 42,185,783 Increase 21.14
2013 2,773,691 33,538 2,807,229 Decrease 5.26 29,104 536 29,640 Increase 13.59 49,757,177 71,841 49,829,018 Increase 18.12
2014 3,408,487 43,992 3,452,479 Increase 22.99 22,822 694 23,516 Decrease 20.66 53,714,155 76,347 53,790,502 Increase 7.95
2015 4,099,131 50,974 4,150,105 Increase 20.21 26,058 758 26,816 Increase 14.03 59,737,244 77,062 59,814,306 Increase 11.20
2016 3,462,119 91,082 3,553,201 Decrease 14.38 32,571 1,186 33,757 Increase 25.88 53,590,101 68,400 53,658,501 Decrease 10.29
2017 4,140,757 93,910 4,234,667 Increase 19.18 36,094 2,399 38,493 Increase 14.03 57,594,657 159,342 57,753,999 Increase 7.63
2018 4,288,408 147,149 4,435,557 Increase 4.74 42,740 1,595 44,335 Increase 15.18 78,824,575 145,262 78,969,837 Increase 36.73
2019 4,303,903 186,183 4,490,086 Increase 1.23 42,281 1,759 44,040 Decrease 0.67 66,767,439 181,762 66,949,201 Decrease 15.22
2020 955,824 33,265 989,089 Decrease 77.97 16,329 370 16,699 Decrease 62.08 33,881,735 44,385 33,926,120 Decrease 49.33
2021 561,889 12,015 573,904 Decrease 41.98 6,177 123 6,300 Decrease 62.27 30,089,418 470,035 30,559,453 Decrease 9.92
2022 2,689,261 80,285 2,769,546 Increase 382.58 18,137 1,044 19,181 Increase 204.46 35,166,751 934,141 36,100,892 Increase 18.13

An em dash (—) is used when data from CAAP is not available.

Access and transportation

The Davao River Bridge, part of the Carlos P. Garcia National Highway

The airport is connected to the city via the Carlos P. Garcia National Highway. The 4-laned La Verna-Mamay Bypass Road was constructed and finished in 2017 near the airport to decongest traffic going from Mamay road to the airport and beyond and vice versa, by avoiding the usually busy intersection of Mamay Road and the Carlos P. Garcia National Highway. To avoid widening a road, which would displace houses and creep onto the airport's site, the road splits into two for 600 meters then merges back. It has a length of 1.7 kilometers, and is able to accommodate 1,000 vehicles per day.[18]

The planned Davao City Expressway will further connect the airport to the city via a diamond interchange. If it goes according to plan, the entire project will be completed in 2026.[19]

Accidents and incidents

  • On April 19, 2000, Air Philippines Flight 541, a Boeing 737-200 en route from Manila to Davao crashed near the airport, killing 131 people.[20][21]
  • On March 4, 2003, a bomb exploded in the waiting shed outside the old terminal building, killing 21 people. At least 145 others were injured.[22]
  • On the night of August 25, 2008, a Philippine Air Force Lockheed L-100 Hercules bound for Iloilo City crashed into Davao Gulf shortly after takeoff. The aircraft sank 800 feet into the gulf. The incident killed nine crew members plus two Philippine Army soldiers.[23][24] After several days of a search-and-retrieval operation, the wreckage was found with the help of a US Navy ship, the USNS John McDonnell.[25]
  • On June 2, 2013, Cebu Pacific Flight 971, an Airbus A320 carrying 165 passengers inbound from Manila, overshot the runway during a heavy rain. There were no fatalities, but the plane was heavily damaged.[26] The damaged aircraft was moved to the old airport terminal for investigation and parting.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Aircraft, Passenger, and Cargo Movements" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Ajero, Antonio M. (December 1, 2003). "Nonoy Garcia, Elias Lopez and other airport tales". SunStar. Sun.Star Davao. Archived from the original on December 21, 2003. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  3. ^ "Speech of President Garcia during the inaugural ceremonies of the opening of Davao Airport, held at 9:30 a.m., August 25, 1958". Official Gazette.
  4. ^ a b c "2.4.1 National Development Plan" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. March 1993.
  5. ^ "Republic Act No. 2762". Senate Legislative Digital Resources. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  6. ^ "MALAYSIA AIRLINES TIMETABLE 1996". Pinterest. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "SilkAir marks 20th year in Davao". Sunstar Davao. February 21, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Upgraded Davao City International Airport Is Ready for More Passengers and Bigger Aircraft". Archived from the original on July 5, 2009.
  9. ^ "Cebu Pacific to make Davao its 3rd hub" (Press release). Cebu Pacific. November 12, 2007. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  10. ^ Cayon, Manuel (March 26, 2018). "Hong Kong, Bangkok eyed for next foreign route of PAL's Davao hub - Manuel Cayon". BusinessMirror.
  11. ^ Francisco, Carmelito Q. (June 16, 2015). "Old Davao airport set for conversion to trade hall". BusinessWorld. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Duterte approves creation of Davao International Airport Authority". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 10, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Mellejor, Lilian (April 4, 2019). "Udenna eyes Davao airport project". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "With more people going to Davao, expansion of international airport gets a boost". Interaksyon. August 3, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  15. ^ "Airports – Davao Int'l Airport". CAAP. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  16. ^ Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (July 23, 2018). "Yearly Passenger, Cargo and Aircraft Movements of all airports in the Philippines 1997-2017". Republic of the Philippines - Freedom of Information Portal. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  17. ^ "Statistics | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines". Archived from the original on May 11, 2020.
  18. ^ Alama, Rudolph Ian (June 29, 2018). "New bypass road opens in Davao City". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  19. ^ "Project description" (PDF). eia.emb.gov.ph. 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  20. ^ "Air disaster timeline". BBC. November 30, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  21. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. May 19, 2000. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  22. ^ "Philippines airport bomb kills 18 – March 4, 2013".
  23. ^ "Hercules goes down in Davao Gulf; 9 missing". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 27, 2008. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  24. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-100-20 Hercules 4593 Barangay Bukana, San Pedro Extension, Davao City". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  25. ^ "US Navy ship to help locate crashed C-130". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Cebu Daily News. August 30, 2008. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  26. ^ Manlupig, Karlos (June 2, 2013). "Cebu Pacific plane overshoots Davao airport runway". Rappler. Retrieved June 3, 2013.

External links

  • – AECOM
  • What's On & Expat Magazine, June 18, 2006 – Upgraded Davao City International Airport Is Ready for More Passengers and Bigger Aircraft
  • Current weather for RPMD at NOAA/NWS
  • Airport information for DVO / RPMD at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  • Accident history for DVO / RPMD at Aviation Safety Network
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