CLASSIFICATION OF AIRPORTS

Regulation over airports and aviation in the Philippines lies with the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The CAAP's classification system, introduced in 2008,
rationalizes the previous Air Transportation Office (ATO) system of airport classification,
pursuant to the Philippine Transport Strategic Study and the 1992 Civil Aviation Master
Plan. The list is updated every three years, or as the need arises. In the current
classification system all of the 85 airports owned by the national government are placed
into one of three main categories:

1. International airports are airports capable of handling international flights and have
border control facilities. Airports in this category include airports that currently serve, or
previously served, international destinations. There are currently 11 airports in this
category.

Ten of these airports were in the initial CAAP list in 2008: Clark, Davao, General
Santos, Laoag, Mactan–Cebu, Manila, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Subic Bay and Zamboanga.
The only airport elevated to international status since 2008 has been the Iloilo Airport,
where scheduled international service began in 2012.

2. Principal airports are airports which serve domestic destinations. This category is
further subdivided into two types:

Class 1 principal airports are airports capable of serving jet aircraft with a capacity of at
least 100 seats. As of August 2016 there are 15 airports under this sub-category, all of
which have regularly-scheduled air service. Following the upgrade of its facilities Caticlan
Airport has been elevated from Class 2 principal airport status to Class 1 as of August 2016.

Class 2 principal airports are airports capable of serving propeller aircraft with a capacity
of at least 19 seats. As of August 2016 there are 18 airports under this sub-category, most
of which have regularly-scheduled air service.

3. Community airports are airports that are used primarily for general aviation. There are
currently 41 airports in this category. Only a few community airports, such as Cauayan
Airport and Ozamiz Airport, have regularly-scheduled air service. Privately owned
aerodromes (airports, airstrips, airfields) are outside of the CAAP's classification system.