Calbayog Airport in Samar is now ready to handle jet aircraft, a development expected to improve domestic air travel and help lower airfare, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said. The development follows President Marcos’ directive to open more regional airports to larger planes.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the airport’s 2,000-meter runway is already suitable for jet operations, including Airbus aircraft. The DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will work with the local government and airlines to start jet services in Calbayog.
To further improve the airport, CAAP will spend an additional P60 million to asphalt a 300-meter portion of the runway, a measure Lopez said will make operations more efficient but will not limit jet flights. Nearly P100 million has also been set aside for runway strip grade correction, scheduled for procurement in March 2026, and P10 million for airport fencing.
Other upgrades include the installation of Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights to support safer landings and night operations, and the completion of a new, modern control tower by the end of February.
Officials said the upgrades will make Calbayog Airport safer and more capable of handling larger aircraft, improving connectivity in Samar and giving travelers more flight options within the country.
