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Francisco Bangoy International Airport

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Francisco Bangoy International Airport
Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Francisco Bangoy
Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Francisco Bangoy
The airport in January 2018 as viewed from across the runway
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorDavao International Airport Authority
ServesMetro Davao
LocationBarangay Sasa, Buhangin, Davao City, Philippines
OpenedAugust 25, 1958; 68 years ago (1958-08-25)
Hub forPAL Express
Operating base for
Cebu Pacific
Time zonePHT (UTC+08:00)
Elevation AMSL29 m (95 ft)
Coordinates07°07′31″N 125°38′45″E / 7.12528°N 125.64583°E / 7.12528; 125.64583
Maps
Map
DVO/RPMD is located in Mindanao mainland
DVO/RPMD
DVO/RPMD
Location within Mindanao mainland
DVO/RPMD is located in Philippines
DVO/RPMD
DVO/RPMD
Location within Philippines
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 3,000 9,843 Asphalt concrete
Statistics (2025)
Passengers4,390,098
Increase 1.18%
Aircraft movements28,564
Decrease 1.78%
Cargo (in kg)49,754,948
Decrease 2.82%
Source: CAAP[1]

Francisco Bangoy International Airport (IATA: DVO, ICAO: RPMD), also known as Davao International Airport, is the main airport serving Davao City and Davao Region in the Philippines. Serving as the main gateway to Mindanao, it is the busiest airport on the island and the third busiest in the Philippines in 2022.

History

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Early history

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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

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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]

Construction for a new terminal designed by Filipino architect Leandro Locsin began in 1976. It was designed to handle a million passengers annually 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 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia[6] and Singapore were also commenced by Malaysia Airlines in 1996 and SilkAir in 1997, respectively.[7][8]

Expansion

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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.[9]

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.[9]

Contemporary history

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On November 12, 2007, Cebu Pacific announced the airport as its third hub.[10]

In June 2015, the Mindanao Development Authority announced its 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 developments

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A night shot of the ramp during rush hour

The airport was slated for upgrading in 2016, but the project was shelved.[13] In 2017, a subsequent expansion project was announced,[14] leading to an unsolicited proposal by the Udenna Corporation in 2018, which received original proponent status from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) later that year.[13]

Concurrently, a separate, state-funded interim development project was initiated by the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to address immediate terminal constraints.[15] The ₱650 million Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) expansion project is designed to increase the terminal's physical floor area by 48%—expanding the facility from 17,500 to 25,910 square meters—and increase total terminal seating capacity from 1,500 to 2,200 passengers upon its expected completion in December 2026.[15]

For the airport's long-term infrastructure strategy under the national government's Public–Private Partnership (PPP) program, the development structure shifted toward a larger, multi-airport strategy under a Rehabilitate–Operate–Transfer (ROT) model. The project was structured as the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Southern Luzon International Airport, and Sayak Airport Bundled Project, creating a joint development framework alongside Bicol International Airport and Siargao's Sayak Airport with an estimated total project cost of ₱16.05 billion.[16]

On June 20, 2025, the CAAP issued a letter of acceptance to the Philippine Regional Airports Consortium – composed of Filinvest Infra-Solutions Ventures, Inc., JG Summit Infrastructure Holding Corporation, and Asian Infrastructure and Management Corporation. Following a negotiation extension that concluded in mid-2026, the Implementing Agencies (CAAP and the Davao International Airport Authority) officially issued Original Proponent Status (OPS) to the consortium on June 4, 2026.[16]

The long-term master plan for Davao International Airport under this 30-year concession period is divided into two major development phases:[16]

  • Phase 1 (Target 2041): Focuses on initial upgrade works including the expansion and renovation of the existing Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), cargo terminal upgrades, the construction of a new fire station, apron and parking lot expansions, the installation of a parallel taxiway, and the expansion of passenger access roads.
  • Phase 2 (Target 2056): Involves further capacity augmentation, including a second expansion and renovation of the PTB, the construction of an entirely new cargo terminal, additional apron and parking lot extensions, and the expansion of ground service equipment (GSE) roads.

The project is currently securing pre-approval requirements before proceeding to the Swiss challenge phase.[16]

Structure

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Terminal

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Front side of the terminal building
other side of the terminal building

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.[9]

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.[9]

Runway

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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.[17]

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.[18]

Other structures

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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.[9]

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Cebgo Cagayan de Oro,[19] Iloilo,[20] Siargao,[19] Tagbilaran,[21] Zamboanga[19]
Cebu Pacific Bacolod,[19] Bangkok–Don Mueang (resumes October 26, 2026),[22] Caticlan,[19] Cebu,[19] Clark,[19] Hong Kong (resumes October 25, 2026),[22] Iloilo,[19] Manila,[19] Puerto Princesa,[19] Tacloban[19]
PAL Express Cebu,[23] Manila,[24] Tagbilaran[24]
Philippine Airlines Manila[24]
Qatar Airways Doha[25]
Scoot Singapore[26]
VietJet Air Seasonal charter: Da Nang[27]

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinations
Royal Air Philippines Nanning[26]
Skyway Airlines Clark[28]

Destination maps

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Statistics

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Data from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).[1][29][30]

PassengersYear01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,000200020052010201520202025PassengersAnnual passenger traffic

Access and transportation

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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 four-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.[31]

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.[32]

Accidents and incidents

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See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. "Aircraft, Passenger, and Cargo Movements". Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 3 "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 March 30, 1997 Route Map". DepartedFlights. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ "MALAYSIA AIRLINES TIMETABLE 1996". Pinterest. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  8. ↑ "SilkAir marks 20th year in Davao". Sunstar Davao. February 21, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Upgraded Davao City International Airport Is Ready for More Passengers and Bigger Aircraft". Archived from the original on July 5, 2009.
  10. ↑ "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.
  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "IN PHOTOS: DOTr-CAAP Inspects Davao International Airport Expansion Project | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines". www.caap.gov.ph. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Southern Luzon International Airport, and Sayak Airport Bundled Project". ppp.gov.ph. Public–Private Partnership Center of the Philippines. June 4, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Airports – Davao Int'l Airport". CAAP. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  18. ↑ Timbal-Senajon, Madonna (November 9, 2018). "Aircraft na may dalang 3 US helicopters, lumapag sa Davao". ABS-CBN News (in Filipino).
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rosales, Elijah Felice (November 4, 2024). "Cebu Pacific hikes Davao seats to 289K". The Philippine Star.
  20. ↑ "Cebgo to commence five Iloilo services from Mar-2026". Centre for Aviation. February 5, 2026.
  21. ↑ Udtohan, Leo (September 11, 2025). "Cebu Pacific adds more flights, larger aircraft in Bohol". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  22. 1 2 "Cebu Pacific to expand Davao network from Oct-2026". Centre for Aviation. August 14, 2026.
  23. ↑ Cruz, Hazel Jane (September 26, 2025). "Local airline launches nonstop Cebu-Guam flights". GMA Network.
  24. 1 2 3 Caseñas, Emma (November 11, 2021). "PAL to resume regular flights between Bohol, Davao". Bohol Chronicle.
  25. ↑ Romero, Maria Bernadette (June 30, 2025). "New PAL-Qatar codeshare connects Doha". Daily Tribune.
  26. 1 2 Colina, Antonio IV (January 9, 2026). "PH eyes revival of flights between Davao and Manado, Kuala Lumpur". MindaNews.
  27. ↑ Alama, Rudolph (January 12, 2026). "Booming Davao-Danang chartered flights seen as step toward regular direct service". Philippine Information Agency.
  28. ↑ Curran, Andrew (April 3, 2025). "Philippines' Skyway Airlines eyes more B737Fs, widebodies". ch-aviation.
  29. ↑ 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.
  30. ↑ "Statistics | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines". Archived from the original on May 11, 2020.
  31. ↑ Alama, Rudolph Ian (June 29, 2018). "New bypass road opens in Davao City". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Project description" (PDF). eia.emb.gov.ph. 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Air disaster timeline". BBC News. November 30, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. May 19, 2000. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Philippines airport bomb kills 18 – March 4, 2013".
  36. ↑ "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.
  37. ↑ 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.
  38. ↑ "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.
  39. ↑ Manlupig, Karlos (June 2, 2013). "Cebu Pacific plane overshoots Davao airport runway". Rappler. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
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