- Davao airport accommodated 13-K passengers daily in May: CAAP XI
THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) XI registered an 18% increase in passengers at the Davao International Airport for May compared to the average of 11,000 daily arrivals for the first quarter of 2019, considered a banner year for the facility.
During the Kapihan forum on June 4, Engr. Rex Obcena, CAAP XI general manager, said they easily breached the daily passenger arrivals pre-pandemic.
“We have breached the 11,000 passengers daily or its count,” he said. “In the last two to three weeks, we are experiencing around 12,000 to 13,000 passengers daily.”
Obcena also highlighted the repair completion of the damaged portions (longitudinal cracks/scarifications) of the runway asphalt overlay, which was completed ahead of time.
He also said the expansion of the airport’s P700-million terminal building, currently in the procurement process, is expected to be awarded this month.
“This project when completed will be able to provide an approximately additional 8,400 square meters of floor area or 48% additional capacity to the airport,” he said.
He added the CAAP is preparing to develop the Mati Airport with the allocation of P1 million from the General Appropriations Act in line with the future commercialization of the facility’s operations.
Obcena also mentioned that the Davao airport generated overall revenue of about P700 million last year, which was all being remitted to the CAAP Central Office.
“Hindi iyan nare-retain sa ating airport. We were just waiting for the next budgetary allocation for the ensuing year, at kung magkano lang ang ibibigay sa amin dito. We don’t have the greater elbow room to play around what the airport generates as revenue,” he said.
