CAAP wants at least three more airports night-rated in 2025

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is targeting to have at least three airports night-rated this year, as only less than half of the commercially served airports across the country are currently able to operate night flights.

According to CAAP director general Manuel Antonio Tamayo, the agency is looking to have Dipolog in Zamboanga del Norte, Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur, and Cauayan in Isabela night-rated given the demand in the areas.

"Why we consider these airports as to be night-rated, it's because of the volume of traffic. So kung nakikita namin na kailangan i-night rate dahil sa dami ng pasahero (If we see that a night-rating is needed due to the number of passengers), we will give it priority," he said in a televised briefing on Tuesday.

"Of course, we will look at the constraints—terrain, iyong limitations in land area, kasi ang tagal natin bago makabili, maka-acquire ng properties around the airports, so it takes time, it's very tedious," he added.

(Of course, we will look at the constraints—terrain, the limitations in land area, because it takes time to buy, to acquire properties around the airports, so it takes time, it's very tedious.)

The country currently has 49 commercially served airports across the country, of which only 23 are night-rated or those that can mount flights from the evening until sunrise.

"Night capability, bakit importante? 'Di ba nagkaka-congestion tayo sa Manila [airports] dahil iyong travel kasi ng mga airlines natin is during the day and the more airports you open that are night-rated or night-capable eh 'di pwede silang dumating ng after midnight or early morning and so on," Tamayo said.

(Why is night capability important? We are having congestion in Manila airports because the travel of the airlines is during the day, and the more airports you open that are night-rated or night-capable, they can arrive after midnight or early morning and so on.)

The CAAP is set to invest P12.4 billion this year, covering improvements of airports and air systems upgrades. — VDV, GMA Integrated News