General Santos International Airport

General Santos International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdigan ng Heneral Santos, Cebuano: Tugpahanang Pangkalibutanon sa Heneral Santos) (IATA: GES, ICAO: RPMR) is an alternate international airport located in General Santos City, Philippines serving the greater area of SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII). It is situated in Barangay Fatima and is officially classified an International Airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a government bureau which is responsible in the management and operations of General Santos International Airport and all other airports in the country except regular international airports.

Inaugurated on 6 July 1996 in time to serve the influx of visitors, athletes and participants coming in from different parts of the country who were taking part in the 42nd annual Palarong Pambansa (National Games) that was held in South Cotabato, Sarangani Province and General Santos City (SOCSARGEN) area at that time. Since then, the new airport immediately replaced the old and smaller Buayan Airport in Barangay Buayan, which is now converted into an air station for the use of The Philippine Air Force and renamed it "Rajah Buayan Air Station". Though new, wider and much modern, General Santos International Airport nevertheless retained its old IATA airport code (GES) from the old Buayan Airport.

History

In the early 1990s, the largest airport in Mindanao was built mainly on a fund granted by the United States Government amounting to USD 50 million through its United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The airport is strategically situated on a 5,994,577-square-meter (599.4577 hectares)[2] plot of high-altitude, government-owned and formerly leased pasture land in Barangay Fatima approximately 14 kilometers away from the central business district of General Santos City. Rumor has it that the construction of the airport was part of a forward strategy of the US Military forces in the Philippine Islands in an, accordingly, apparent attempt to reestablish their presence in Southeast Asia.[3][citation needed] This allegation came out a few years later after their eviction from their installations at Subic Naval Base, Olongapo City and Clark Air Base, Pampanga in 1991. Both the U.S. and the Philippine governments denied the allegation.

Upon the opening of the new airport in 1996, it has since gotten hold of the record as the biggest airport facility in the island of Mindanao, which has then become a very promising addition to the potential of the city of General Santos in its bid to become a "Boom Town"—which means rapidly developing urban center—as it was indeed dubbed as is during the time. All flights, in small aircraft, to and from Ilo-ilo and Cebu cities by the national flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) that were previously operating in the old and smaller Buayan Airport has since then landed and departed in this new and far better airport facility. On the first few weeks of operation of the new airport, PAL has initially deployed its Boeing 737-300 aircraft to serve its special direct flights to and from the capital to serve the travel needs for the on-going Palarong Pambansa sports event being held during the time. As before there were no direct flights going to and from the capital to this city because PAL couldn't utilize its wider body and long range aircraft to safely land and take off in the city's old and smaller Buayan Airport. During then, there were only two options for air travelers to get to Manila by air from General Santos City and vice versa and that there's not much of a choice but to go through the ordeal. One, is to take and wait for a connecting flight to Manila upon arrival in Mactan-Cebu International Airport and second, is to take a tiresome and lengthy 4-hour travel by land to Davao City just to catch a direct flight to Manila.

Runway

Aerial view of General Santos International Airport

General Santos International Airport has a single 3,221-meter lighted runway designated as runways 17/35. Made entirely of reinforced concrete and macadam, the airport's runway is the third-longest runway in the Philippines, after Runway 06/24 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Runway 04/22 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport respectively.

Terminal Building facilities

Check-in lobby

One elevator at the check-in lobby

The Mabuhay Lounge by Philippine Airlines

Air conditioned pre-departure lounge

Comfort rooms

Arrival area

One baggage conveyor at the arrival area

Cafe Leticia Restaurant at the second floor (air conditioned)

Specialty Stores (located at the second floor lobby, at the departure lobby and pre-departure lounge in the ground floor)

Fresh Tuna products sold (concession building adjacent to the terminal building)

Philippine Airlines Ticketing Office

Cebu Pacific Air Ticketing Office

Covered well wishers area (adjacent to the terminal building)

Car parking

Access and transportation

General Santos International Airport is approximately 14 kilometers away from the central business district of General Santos City. A concrete 6-kilometer Philippine-American Friendship Road connects the airport to the Pan Philippine Highway leading to the city proper as well as to the nearby provinces.

Air-conditioned taxicabs and rent-a-car services are readily available at the airport's taxi and bus stand right outside the arrival area of the terminal building. Public utility jeepneys/mini cabs provide regular direct shuttle service from the airport to the city's central business district at a minimum fare of PHP 50 per passenger. Major hotels and hospitality centers in the city and elsewhere in the region have their individual shuttle service and assistance provided at the airport's taxi and bus stand.