Legazpi City, PH 🇵🇭 Closed Airport Scheduled Service
PH-0681
-
66 ft
PH-ALB
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 13.1575° N, 123.735° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: LGP RPLP
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
06/24 |
6867 ft | 118 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| FSS | RDO | 544.75 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 123.3 MHz |
October 7, 2021. The last commercial flights departed on this day. All airline operations officially transferred to the new Bicol International Airport (DRP/RPLK) the following day, October 8, 2021.
The airport was permanently closed and replaced by the newly constructed Bicol International Airport (BIA). The primary reasons for its replacement were:
1. **Safety and Operational Hazards:** Its close proximity to the active Mayon Volcano made it highly vulnerable to ashfall and lahar (volcanic mudflows), leading to frequent and disruptive flight cancellations, especially during volcanic unrest or typhoons.
2. **Expansion and Capacity Limitations:** Located in the heart of Legazpi City, the airport was surrounded by urban development, making it impossible to extend the runway or expand the terminal facilities to accommodate larger, wide-body aircraft for long-haul international flights.
3. **Economic Development:** The new Bicol International Airport was built to be a modern, world-class gateway capable of handling international flights directly, intended to boost tourism and economic growth for the entire Bicol Region.
The site is no longer an active commercial airport. The land, including the runway and old terminal buildings, has been turned over from the CAAP to local authorities for redevelopment. The primary plan is to convert the vast property into a mixed-use commercial and business district, sometimes referred to as a new 'central business district' for Legazpi City. While the runway is physically still there, it is not maintained for aviation and the site is closed to the public pending redevelopment.
For over 75 years, the old Legazpi Airport (correctly identified as IATA: LGP, ICAO: RPLP) was the primary air gateway to the Bicol Region. It was classified as a Class 1 Principal domestic airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). It handled daily flights from major domestic carriers like Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, connecting Legazpi to Manila and Cebu. The airport was famous among pilots and travelers for its breathtakingly scenic, yet challenging, final approach, which offered a direct and dramatic view of the perfectly-coned Mayon Volcano. It was a critical piece of infrastructure for regional tourism, business travel, and cargo transport for decades. The IATA code 'LGP' was transferred to the new airport upon its opening. The ICAO code 'PH-0681' you provided is not a standard ICAO identifier; the correct code was RPLP.
There are zero prospects for reopening the old Legazpi Airport for commercial aviation. Its function has been entirely and permanently superseded by the Bicol International Airport, which was a multi-billion peso national government project specifically designed to be its replacement. The future of the old airport site is firmly in urban redevelopment, not a return to aviation.