After much delay, Sangley Airport in Cavite will finally be opened on February 15 for general aviation aircraft to lessen air traffic congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
President Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest of honor to preside over the opening the airport which he ordered completed last year
Despite prior announcements, many corporate aircraft were reportedly unable to use the facility due to lack of infrastructure like a hangar and taxiway.
President Duterte expressed dismay and hinted at a revamp of aviation officials after he visited the NAIA last June, where he was a le to talk to some stranded passengers.
Duterte wanted to clear Sangley Point airport in Cavite to transfer the General Aviation Area (Gen-Av) and its hangars, which occupy a large portion of the NAIA compound.
The long
overdue transfer of GenAvs to Sangley was supported by many aviation stakeholders.
The initial move to transfer the Gen-av to Sangley airport was planned on July
2016 during the term of former Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)
General Manager Angel Honrado.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) officials said they will support the government’s decision “to move the operations of General Aviation Area out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to decongest the premier airport.”
“Any measures to reduce air traffic congestion at NAIA will not only improve air-lines flight schedule reliability but also enhance passenger’s convenience,” PAL said.
PAL’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Lucio Tan said in a statement issued July 16, 2016: “We declare our full support to the new government’s decision to move the operations of Gen-av out of NAIA to either Sangley, Clark or Subic.”
Although it has been repeatedly announced during former Miaa chief Jose Angel Honrado’s term that some of the airplanes at the Gen-AV would be transferred to Sangley, the plan was never fully carried out, except for a small company that airlifts marine products from Palawan.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has been pushing for plans to move the general aviation flights to Sangley by yearend as it targets to wrap up the P500-million rehabilitation works at the former military base.
The Cavite provincial government has been working on its proposal to develop Sangley as a new international airport that could serve as an alternative to the NAIA.