General Santos, PH 🇵🇭 Closed Airport
ICAO
PH-0434
IATA
-
Elevation
308 ft
Region
PH-SCO
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 6.15473° N, 125.16027° E
Continent: Asia
Type: Closed Airport
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Approximately mid-1996. The airport ceased commercial operations upon the opening and inauguration of the new General Santos International Airport (Tambler Airport) in 1996, which was built to serve as a larger, more modern facility for the region.
The airport was closed and replaced for several reasons:
1. **Capacity and Modernization:** Lagao Airport had a relatively short runway and limited terminal facilities, making it incapable of handling larger, wide-body aircraft required for international flights and increased domestic demand.
2. **Urban Encroachment:** Located near the city center, the airport was surrounded by urban development. This limited any potential for expansion and posed increasing safety risks to the growing population.
3. **Economic Growth:** The new General Santos International Airport (Tambler Airport) was constructed to support the booming agro-industrial and fishing sectors (particularly the tuna industry) of the SOCCSKSARGEN region, requiring a facility with international capabilities and greater cargo capacity.
The site of the former Lagao Airport has been completely redeveloped and integrated into the urban landscape of General Santos City. The old runway is now a major thoroughfare, the Jose Catolico Sr. Avenue, which is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26). The land has been transformed into a major commercial, civic, and recreational hub. Notable landmarks on the former airport grounds include the General Santos City Oval Plaza (a large park and sports complex), KCC Mall of Gensan, Veranza Mall, government offices, hotels, and other commercial establishments. The original airport infrastructure is no longer extant.
Lagao Airport was the original and primary air gateway to General Santos City and the surrounding provinces for several decades. It was instrumental in the city's economic rise, earning it the title 'Tuna Capital of the Philippines' by providing a vital link for commerce, trade, and passenger travel. The airport primarily handled domestic flights, with major carriers like Philippine Airlines connecting General Santos to Manila and other key cities. It accommodated aircraft typical of that era, such as the BAC 1-11 and Boeing 737. Its existence was crucial for the development and accessibility of the entire region before it was outgrown.
None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening Lagao Airport. The site has been irreversibly redeveloped into a core part of the city's infrastructure and commercial district. Its function has been permanently superseded by the General Santos International Airport (RPMR/GES).