Matina Airfield

The primary reason for closure was the need for a larger, more modern airport to accommodate the growing air traffic and larger aircraft. The Matina Airfield was becoming constrained by the rapid urban expansion of Davao City, which limited its potential for runway extension and created safety concerns. It was officially replaced by the Francisco Bangoy Airport in the Sasa district, which had more space for development.

The site of the former Matina Airfield has been completely redeveloped and is now a bustling commercial and residential center. The most prominent structure built on the former airfield's grounds is the **SM City Davao** shopping mall. The entire area, including the Ecoland Subdivision and other commercial establishments, covers the land where the runway and airport facilities once stood. There are no visible remnants of the original airfield.

Matina Airfield was the first principal airport for Davao City and holds significant historical value.

- **Pre-WWII and WWII Era:** It was established before World War II and served as a strategic military airfield for the US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). During the war, it was captured and used extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army. It became a key strategic objective for both sides during the Battle of Davao in 1945.

- **Post-War Commercial Hub:** After the war, it was repurposed as Davao's main commercial airport. It was the hub for airlines like Philippine Airlines (PAL), which operated propeller aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, connecting Davao to Manila and other key cities. The airfield was instrumental in the post-war economic recovery and growth of the entire Mindanao region.

- **Note on ICAO Code:** The identifier 'PH-0719' is not an official historical ICAO code. It is an unofficial identifier used in modern flight simulator databases (like X-Plane or MSFS) to mark the location of the historical airfield. Official ICAO codes for the Philippines begin with 'RP'.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Matina Airfield. The land has been irreversibly transformed into a dense urban area with high-value commercial and residential properties for over six decades. Re-establishing an airport at this location is physically, logistically, and economically impossible.