Bicol International Airport to Begin Domestic Flights on 7 Oct 2021

After 11 years of delays in its construction, the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga, Albay is set to receive its first domestic commercial flights on Thursday, 7 Oct 2021. 

Dubbed the “Most Scenic Gateway” in the Philippines, the Bicol International Airport (BIA) features a stunning backdrop of Mount Mayon and world-class interior design. It was completed at the cost of ₱4 billion pesos. 

Also read: Two Philippine Airports Named Among the Best in Asia

Check out the stunning interiors of Bicol International Airport (BIA)

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, who led the inspection of the airport, shared a sneak peak of the BIA’s interiors on Facebook. Take a look at the photos below:

Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the BIA provided 755 jobs for workers and is predicted to create 1,100 more indirect jobs when the airport officially begins commercial operations. 

Once it is fully operational, the BIA can accommodate two million passengers yearly.

Furthermore, the BIA is ready to begin international operations on 7 Nov 2021 subject to the “airline’s application to operate international flights,” according to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Chief of Staff and Airport Projects Team Head Danjun Lucas. 

The BIA is set to be a major international airport in the Bicol Region, where tourists can visit attractions such as Mayon Volcano and Cagsawa Ruins. The newly built airport will also help the aviation industry and boost tourism in Bicol, especially once international travel resumes. 

Also read: Send Love to Bicolandia: Here’s How You Can Send Your Cargo from North Luzon to Bicol

Exciting, isn’t it? We can already picture it in our heads: the near-perfect cone of Mayon Volcano from the window as the plane touches down.