Laguindingan International Airport in Mindanao - Any Reviews?

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Anybody had any experience with the newly opened Laguindingan Airport? My wife has been home visiting her family and the new airport has opened since she arrived. Her family lives only about 30 minutes from the new airport, so it should be a lot easier to get there.

I just wonder if there is any growing pains with the new airport or has everything been running pretty smooth? The only hitch I have heard is they still do not have the IFR equipment installed so bad weather can be a problem.

They are promoting it as an international airport, so maybe someday there will be flights direct to there without having to spend a day in Manila waiting on a connecting flight!

Thanks!

[SilentOdyssey 4]

Fly in and out of Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) daytime is still safe. Through if there is enough visibility abound before coming of rain/storm the plane will lane just fine. LIA was chosen to be situated by the sea where there is prevailing wind to prevent rolling cloud easily push their way in. Also, because the City of Iligan left without running airport (Maria Reyes Airport closed down mid-2000's) it was ideal location where agreement could pacify all future flyers and passengers coming and going both side of Northern Mindanao.

South Korean Government provided soft loan to Republican of the Philippines brand new navigational aid made in South Korea. Crime to this, everyone thought navigation, all lights, rotating ears, VFT and whistle would be there on opening day. Not true in that case. Even Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce, who first championed of new airport, strongly opposed the opening day of Laguindingan and closing of Lumbia.

Only growing pain is late arrival and leaving of Air Philippines which had made (like my final flight out of CDO on March 14) almost 2 hours late. They were unloading over 2 dozen sari-sari size of Marlboro cigarette billboard in glossy print when my jet arrived. Uh!

Air Philippine Express should be avoid for now because of recent computer glitch (can't locate the article I read after I arrived Ohio). Got big quiet laugh in my plane when I saw Rep. Rufus Rodriguez marched in and going in the rear of the cabin, talking to his cellphone while holding his leather-soft briefcase, without knowing he was going. Not only did this Congressman realized when he had wrong seat but got on wrong plane, my flight, he quickly exit back to the gate! Because of personal frustration he eventually filed congressional inquiry on LIA

Accord to BusinessWeek Mindanao article, written just before I flew away few weeks prior Holy Week 2014, the situation remain true. However, there is control tower erected long before, did this article said it is unmanned. Wow, my plane must'a flying like a bat in sunglass!

Unlike the old Lumbia airport in Cagayan de Oro, the new Laguindingan Airport has no night landing facilities like runway lights, navigational equipment and a control tower. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap), daily flights to Laguindingan have dropped to 17 (Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific) compared to 28 to 32 daily flights at the old Lumbia airport, which was night-rated.

A Wikipedia article on that modern airport, aside older Lumbia Airport (converted to air force base), is now classified as a Principal Domestic Airport Class 1 by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. For all latest development on expansions and reviews can now be seen in CDO PROGRESS WATCH website here.

I remember seeing a logo of Korean Air and even heard rumor of future South Korea direct connection, bypass Manila. And huge billboard posted up by Cebu Pacific saying direct flight to/fro Arabia region late last year 2013. Apparently that did not materialized, or did it? In Wikipedia via BusinessWeek Mindanao it said

An expansion of the passenger and cargo terminals, and parking lot are also currently being planned. With the large South Korean presence in Cagayan de Oro, the regional Department of Tourism is eyeing flight routes from Busan to Cagayan de Oro via Singapore or a direct route from Busan to Cagayan de Oro to further bolster the tourism industry in the region

[biaobiao 40]

So far so good. Yes they only have flights at daytime but soon it will be all fine. I think target date will be november this year as businessmen wanted to expedite the completion of the airport as they are losing a lot (according to the local news)

But the airport itself is better than the old one. More accessible from iligan city

[Sirliner 26]

I flew in and out of Laguindingan Airport back in February with Zest Air and it was fine. Long ways from CDO, though. Only issue, the ATM inside the terminal was not working.