Monday, April 25, 2011

Legazpi Airport

Legazpi Airport,Paliparan ng Legazpi, Bikol: Palayogan nin Legazpi (IATA: LGP, ICAO: RPLP) in the Philippines is a major airport in the Bicol Region, serving the vicinity of Legazpi City in Albay. It has a single runway with dimensions of 2280 x 36 meters, longer than those of the former airports of Bacolod City (1958 x 30 meters) and Mandurriao in Iloilo City (2100 x 43 meters), the airport can handle medium-sized civilian jets and military aircraft.
The airport is up for upgrading. It has no ILS such that low ceiling during inclement weather causes flight cancellations, to the chagrin of passengers. It is also only about 12 kilometers from the crater of Mayon Volcano; during eruptions, flights are canceled because of the danger posed by ash fall. The Regional Development Council had previously approved the feasibility study to transfer the airport to a site some 27 kilometers from the crater of Mayon, in barangay Bariis south of Legazpi City. Aside from the advantage of its being way out of ashfall's reach, it is midway between Legazpi and the province of Sorsogon and the emerging eco-tourism destination of Donsol with its whale sharks.
Aside from PAL, Filipinas Orient Airways and Air Manila International served the airport prior to 1972, the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. Through the years, other airlines came and went: Air Philippines for some time served Legazpi with YS-11's and 737-200s. Asian Spirit served Pili for flights to/from Manila and Cebu and has since ceased operations with six million pesos in collectibles from local (Naga or Pili) franchisees. Asian Spirit might introduce flights to Legazpi aside from its sectors in Virac and Masbate. At present, Aboitiz also regularly calls on Legazpi. South East Asian Airlines, using the 19-seat LET-410, plies Cebu-Legazpi-Cebu Mondays and Fridays.

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