Loakan Airport
Also known as: Baguio Airport · Baguio Loakan Airport
Definition
Loakan Airport is the airport serving Baguio City, located in the Loakan barangay south of the city center at an elevation of about 1,300 meters, making it one of the highest airports in the Philippines. Its short runway and mountainous surroundings long limited commercial service, which has been revived on a limited scale in recent years.
Identities
| Database | Identifier |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Loakan Airport |
| Wikidata | Q1931154 |
| DBpedia | N/A |
Also Known As
- Baguio Airport
- Baguio Loakan Airport
Examples and Analogies
Flying into Loakan is like landing on a rooftop in the clouds: the runway is short by jet standards, hemmed by pine-clad ridges and frequent fog, so pilots fly precision approaches that closer resemble alpine airstrip procedures than typical lowland Philippine airport routines.
Usage Scenarios
The airport handles limited scheduled domestic flights linking Baguio with Metro Manila and Cebu, general aviation, charter and medical evacuation flights, and military aircraft, supporting the Cordillera region’s tourism and highland economy.
Strategies
Revival strategy pairs upgraded navigation aids and terminal improvements with strict operational windows dictated by wind and visibility, positioning the airport as a complement to the long mountain drive rather than a mass transit substitute.
Security and Safety Measures
Safety measures center on weather minimums, daytime operations under visual conditions, runway end safety areas, and fog-holding protocols. Terrain awareness procedures address the surrounding ridges, and perimeter security manages encroachment along the runway’s populated edges.
Historical Context
Loakan served as Baguio’s air link during the American colonial period when the city was the summer capital, and scheduled services by carriers including Philippine Airlines operated intermittently for decades before commercial flights ceased in the 2000s. Renewed demand and government support restored limited scheduled service in the 2020s.
Challenges and Controversies
Thick fog, short runway length, and residential encroachment have repeatedly stalled sustained commercial operations, and proposals to extend the runway or build alternative gateways for the Cordilleras stir debate over cost and land acquisition.
Related Topic
Baguio City