Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has stated that the new Puerto Princesa airport is set to open in March of this year with 90% of construction already complete as of January.
The powerhouse, administration building, watch tower, and terminal are almost finished, while the security and safety measures, including the air navigation system, have already been tested, CAAP area manager Engr. Percy Malonesio told ABS-CBN News.
The taxi-way and runway of the new airport will be longer to accommodate more domestic and international flights, he said.
Puerto Princesa tourism officer Toto Alvior earlier told Philippine Star that their local government targets to increase tourist arrivals to around 1.3 million next year after the opening of their world-class airport as it will provide more access to tourists with direct flights coming in. They are estimating 1.2 to 1.3 million tourists, which is a 60 percent increase in tourist arrivals in their city alone.
In 2015, Puerto Princesa was able to contribute more than 80 percent of the one million total tourist arrivals in the whole Palawan.
