Tacloban: Air passenger traffic at the Tacloban Airport rose by 7 percent in 2024, primarily driven by additional flights to the regional capital, an official said on Tuesday. From 1,573,301 inbound and outbound passengers in 2023, the figure went up to 1,689,748 last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said in its report.
According to Philippines News Agency, the opening of a new air route going to Tacloban from Davao and Iloilo in the later part of the year has contributed to that growth. The annual passenger traffic increase has been consistent since 2018, said CAAP Eastern Visayas area manager Danilo Abarreta in a phone interview. On Oct. 29, 2024, Cebu Pacific launched its new routes: Iloilo-Tacloban-Iloilo, operating four times weekly, and Davao-Tacloban-Davao, operating three times per week.
The Tacloban airport has 16 to 20 flights daily, including 12 daily flights from and to Metro Manila and four daily flights from and to Cebu. Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes attributed the increase in airport traffic last year to the opening of new routes. "It is an indication that accessibility of a destination is truly vital," she said.
With this development, the DOT in Region 8 hopes that airline service providers will consider the resumption of the Tacloban-Clark route and routes to other growth centers in the country. This would enhance connectivity to Eastern Visayas and encourage travelers to consider visiting the region. The Tacloban-Clark flights have stopped in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions.
In a statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the notable uptrend in both passenger and aircraft movement is a clear indication of a high demand for air transport. It points to a need to fast-track the upgrading of the airport. The current development aims to transform the airport into an international gateway by 2028, meeting international aviation standards, not only in its services but also in equipment and facilities.
The NEDA reported that the Tacloban Airport Development project is now in full swing. Citing reports from the Department of Public Works and Highways, NEDA said the two newly started components were recognized for their swift progress. The passenger terminal building phase 3, with a contract cost of PHP964.28 million, is 45.21 percent complete and is expected to be finished by February 2026. Similarly, the construction of airport facilities, with a contract cost of PHP494.89 million, is 47.70 percent complete, with a target completion date of October 2025.
The first two phases of the passenger terminal building construction are still ongoing with a combined cost of PHP1.8 billion. The Tacloban Airport, officially known as Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport, was named after the late former House Speaker and uncle of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos. It is classified as a Class 1 major domestic airport. Serving as the main gateway from Manila and Cebu to the Eastern Visayas region, it was ranked the country's 11th busiest airport in 2023, with 1.5 million inbound and outbound passengers.
