The new Northern Cagayan International Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan is expected to open in late 2014 or early 2015. The $34.2 million airport will have a 2,200 meter runway and support both domestic and international flights. It aims to intensify investments and tourism in northern Luzon by providing easier access to Cagayan Special Economic Zone and cutting travel time from Manila to one hour by plane.

1. New Airport
Development opens
in Lal-lo, Cagayan

2. Northern Cagayan International
Airport or known as Lal-lo International
Airport is an airport located between
barangays San Mariano and Dagupan of Lal-
lo, Cagayan. It is currently under construction
and 98% complete as of August 14, 2014. The
airport is expected to be launched in the last
quarter of 2014 and to be operational by
2015.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3. The new airport is a joint venture
between CEZA and a private consortium, which
was initiated in 2009. The new $34.2 million
(approx. P1.66 Billion) airport is expected to
intensify investment and tourism opportunities
in the northern part of Luzon. The Northern
Cagayan International Airport is constructed to
support the Cagayan Special Economic Zone in
northern Cagayan and will also serve the
seaborne traffic through Port Irene.

4. The airport project involves the construction of a
2,200-meter runway, with a width of 45 meters,
following the standards of the International Civil
Aviation Organization was completed in December
2012, the international airport can accommodate large
aircraft such as the Airbus A319-100 and Boeing
regional jets of comparable size, which has a typical
seating capacity of 134 passengers. Officials from the
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) tested
the runway on February 19. It will also include a
terminal building covering a floor area of 1,000 square
meters, paved apron and tarmac that can accommodate
two aircraft simultaneously, and a control tower.

5. Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator Jose
Mari Ponce said “the new airport would complement
Cagayan Freeport in Port Irene, Sta. Ana, a 54,000- hectare
business hub that attracts investors to put up hotel resorts
and restaurants, commercial establishments and business
process outsourcing facilities that generated thousands of
jobs for local residents".
The new facility will cut down a 12-hour land travel
from Manila to a one-hour plane ride. Ponce said the airport
might also serve Asian business aircraft in the near future.
“We are eyeing mainland China as a market where hundreds
of business aircrafts are being parked at the airports of Hong
Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau and other Asian airports
at high rates and restricted air spaces,” he said.

6. Nilo Aldeguer, CEZA senior deputy
administrator, said “the airport would be in full
swing starting summer next year (2015) as its
runway, control tower and other facilities have
already been completed and tested for
international flights”. Regional Director Mary Anne
Darauay of the National Economic and
Development Authority for Region 2 said the on-
going construction of the building structures,
roadway, perimeter fence, drainage, electrical lines
and other airport appurtenances is targeted to be
completed in this years summer.

7. ”The airport will also serve as an alternate
gateway for investors, tourists and other
visitors coming from countries around the
world,” said Darauay, also the acting chair of
the Regional Development Council for Cagayan
Valley.
Aside from the new airport, there are also
plans to add facilities such as typhoon-resistant
hangars, refueling stations, maintenance and
repair facilities and advanced ground handling
units.

8. SWOT ANALYSIS
Strengths
•The new facility will cut down a 12-hour land travel from Manila to
a 1-hour plane ride.
• It has 2,100 meters (6,900 ft) by 45 meter runway, following the
standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that
could accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A320.
•The airport creates diverse employment opportunities related to
aircraft operations and maintenance, passenger and freight
handling, air traffic control and safety and various retail and
commercial activities to service passengers, airport visitors and
workers.
•The airport is also an important facilitator of imports and exports
for local businesses.
•Serve as a business catalyst by enhancing business efficiency and
productivity by providing easy access to customers and suppliers.

9. Weaknesses
•Environmental destruction; generate air
pollution.
•Lead to higher levels of warming or
climate change.
•Reduction in the type and extent of
habitats; bird strike.

10. Opportunities
•Will serve both domestic and international flights,
especially from Asian countries like Japan, China, Taiwan and
Singapore.
•Improve accessibility by air to the economic and free port
zone as well as to other places of the region and nearby
towns towards the Cordillera.
•The airport would not only make Cagayan’s economy
stronger and sustainable but will boost the entire Cagayan
Valley, which is one of the country’s food baskets.
•Contributes on the competitiveness of the regional
economy particularly in attracting new investments.
Threat
• Unstable market; seasonal employment.

11. 1. The NCIA will boosts investments opportunities and
tourism opportunities especially of related ventures
such as flying school, medical and other support
system for the airport crew and tourism facilities to
the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport
as well as in the entire region.
2. It will make Cagayan’s economy stronger and
sustainable.
3. It will improve the accessibility by air to the
economic and free port zone as well as to other
places of the region and nearby towns towards the
Cordillera.
CONCLUSIONS

12. 4. It will serve both domestic and
international flights, especially from
Asian countries like Japan, China,
Taiwan and Singapore.
5. It will serve as an alternate gateway
for investors, tourists and other
visitors coming from countries around
the world.

13. RECOMMENDATION