SFE | San Fernando Airport

[hugodiekonig]

about sa zestair naman,they stopped servicing the airport not primarily because of low passenger traffic but yung plane na ginagamit nla for SFE flights nla ay na found out na post-war planes pa pala ang mga iyon,syempre dangerous iyon para sa flights. After suspending their flights to SFE airport,they never came back

[hugodiekonig]

hopefully ma-carry out na very soon ang plans ng bcda for airport synergization ng SFE and Clark airports para makinabang ang isat isa

[hugodiekonig]

hopefully the airport would be privatized too.kulang pa sa facilities ang airport such as passenger terminal. Though nkapasa sa international standards ang runway nito,i think airline firms arent still convinced sa haba nito na 2.1km lang.kailangang habaan pa ang runway

[hugodiekonig]

And kung ma-privatize rin ang airport, mas aasahan ang aggressive na pagdeliver ng mga services, operations at development plans ng managing/private firm

[hugodiekonig]

I stand corrected. Zest Air suspended flights to the airport September 11, 2011, effective September 12

ZESTAIR Flight Advisory:
Good day!
Please be advised that starting on September 12, 2011, ZESTAIR flight from
MANILA to SAN FERNANDO (La Union) and vice versa is suspended indefinitely.
For more information, you may call at (02) 855-3333
Monday thru Friday from 7:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m.,
Saturday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Thank you.

source

[hugodiekonig]

This is a press release exactly 3 years ago. Here and I quote:

San Fernando Airport Reopens

San Fernando City, La Union -- San Fernando airport officially re-opens to the public today with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurating it, after undergoing Php 478 million upgrade aimed to accommodate international flights from the Asia-Pacific region namely China, Taiwan, Japan, Hongkong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Korea.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Narciso Abaya, said the resumption of operations of the San Fernando airport will further strengthen Poro Point’s appeal in attracting more investments and tourists, thereby generating more job opportunities for the people of La Union. “Increased investments and tourist spending augur well for the economy of La Union,” Abaya said.



The San Fernando Airport is part of the Poro Point Special Freeport Zone (PPSFZ) being managed by the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) which bankrolled the P565-million airport upgrade project.

It sits on a land area of approximately forty (40) hectares situated on barangays Canaoay and San Francisco, of San Fernando City. Among the phase I components that were completed under contract with SATRAP Construction Company, Inc. includes:
1. the removal of hill obstruction;
2. strengthening, extending and widening of the runway from 1320 meters by 36 meters to 2100 meters by 45 meters;
3. strengthening of existing apron and construction of taxiway;
4. construction of drainage lines;
5. construction of control tower;
6. rehabilitation of the Fire Station building;
7. construction of water receiving station;
8. construction of Power House building;
9. completion of perimeter fence;
10. provision of utilities such as power supply, water supply system and fire water supply system; and
11. provision of Air Navigation and Support Facilities such as Aeronautical Ground Lighting System, Automated Weather Observation System, Air Traffic Control Equipment.

The airport project was designed by Scheme Konsult, Inc. and was completed on February 1, 2009, a total of 615 calendar days, or almost 2 years of construction. Phase II involves construction of the terminal building.

PPMC president Felix Racadio said that the new international standard airport facility complies with relevant standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and is certified to be capable of handling aircraft as big as Boeing 737 and Airbus 320.

The upgrading of the aerodrome at the airport aims to support the development plan of the Poro Point Freeport Zone, consisting of the Wallace Air Station, San Fernando Seaport and Airport and other contiguous areas, as an alternative international gateway to northern Luzon.

source

[hugodiekonig]

San Fernando Airport seen from Google



San Fernando City and La Union Province Thread 2

[hugodiekonig]

Malaki daw ang Tarmac ng SFE Airport?

[hugodiekonig]

Assures steady flow of funds for AFP Modernization and big impact projects in Central and Northern Luzon

Posted: March 13, 2012

The state-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) projected recurring income from its lease and joint venture developments projects in Bonifacio Global City and Newport City to reach a total of P30.4 billion in the next 20 years.

BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said that aside from the outright sale of properties in Bonifacio Global City, the BCDA has entered into joint-development agreements and lease agreements with the private sector that have resulted in annual secured fixed payments totaling P30.416 billion for the years 2012 to 2032.

Aside from pumping its share of its disposition proceeds to the development of its ecozones, Casanova cited the development of the San Fernando Airport in La Union and the BCDA monorail project as among the high impact infrastructure projects that the BCDA will be pursuing in the near future.

source: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/198#

[hugodiekonig]

source: http://www.bcda.gov.ph/news_articles/show/183

[litigs]

Originally Posted by hugodiekonig

Malaki daw ang Tarmac ng SFE Airport?

yes it is, two airbus A320s and a turboprop can park simultaneously. Planes are not the issue, the airlines just didn't get the profitable load they like, and that's quite understandable with Clark nearby and lots of cheaper options going to Manila. At todays base price, the fuel surcharge on an airline fare( doesn't show up in the promos) can already fetch you a ride to Manila if I'm not mistaken. So the only way for this airport to survive if it warrants a direct link to other Philippine cities like Cebu. as you know, there are only two hubs from any point departure, you could either land in Manila or Cebu if you are coming from smaller cities like Fernando.

[hugodiekonig]

Originally Posted by litigs

yes it is, two airbus A320s and a turboprop can park simultaneously. Planes are not the issue, the airlines just didn't get the profitable load they like, and that's quite understandable with Clark nearby and lots of cheaper options going to Manila. At todays base price, the fuel surcharge on an airline fare( doesn't show up in the promos) can already fetch you a ride to Manila if I'm not mistaken. So the only way for this airport to survive if it warrants a direct link to other Philippine cities like Cebu. as you know, there are only two hubs from any point departure, you could either land in Manila or Cebu if you are coming from smaller cities like Fernando.

someone from other thread kasi told me, amazed siya dahil malaki daw tarmac ng SFE Airport

I agree with you that the only way for this airport to survive, it should accommodate flights from quite a distant (As you mentioned, Cebu-San Fernando for example, not Manila-San Fernando because of proximity or else it would be impractical. Travel by land is the utmost option) or overseas (It was planned to attract airline to open international flights to Hongkong and Korea) in order to be profitable

[litigs]

Originally Posted by hugodiekonig

someone from other thread kasi told me, amazed siya dahil malaki daw tarmac ng SFE Airport

I agree with you that the only way for this airport to survive, it should accommodate flights from quite a distant (As you mentioned, Cebu-San Fernando for example, not Manila-San Fernando because of proximity or else it would be impractical. Travel by land is the utmost option) or overseas (It was planned to attract airline to open international flights to Hongkong and Korea) in order to be profitable

San Fernando should have a 5 star resort, casino, or golf course as a one stop place to go for tourist from nearby Asian cities. At least airlines can fly-in some charters just like what they do in Laoag. I'm saying Laoag because its the closest in its class to compare; Kalibo, Caticlan, Cebu and Bohol belongs to a different breed. Isn't San Fernando reputed to be the surfing destination of Luzon? Maybe it can capitalize on that.

[hugodiekonig]

Originally Posted by litigs

San Fernando should have a 5 star resort, casino, or golf course as a one stop place to go for tourist from nearby Asian cities. At least airlines can fly-in some charters just like what they do in Laoag. I'm saying Laoag because its the closest in its class to compare; Kalibo, Caticlan, Cebu and Bohol belongs to a different breed. Isn't San Fernando reputed to be the surfing destination of Luzon? Maybe it can capitalize on that.

We do have a 5-star resort. It is the Thunderbird Resort, a Santorini, Greece - inspired resort. Have you heard about this resort already? It is around 2 kilometers from the airport. It has a pool, 18-hole golf course, white sand beach, casino, 36 rooms, ongoing real estate project, etc.


Repost: Here's the google map of the Thunderbird Resort including the airport.



Here are some photos of Thunderbird Resort

Aerial View of the Thunderbird Resort Complex at Poro Point, La Union


Casino


Development Plan




Reposted from Thunderbird Resort Complex Thread

[hugodiekonig]

Sea Air and Zest Air used to have flights here for those who want to go to Thunderbird Resort and have their side trips in San Juan for surfing, other tourist spots in La Union or to climb up to Baguio.


One reason for low passenger traffic is high ticket costs. I think proceeds from the 10% of the ticket price goes to Thunderbird since they also allocated som eof their funds for the Airport development lst 2008-2009.

[hugodiekonig]

BCDA to tap private sector for Poro Point rehab

BCDA to tap private sector for Poro Point rehab
By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated March 14, 2012 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) plans to tap the private sector to rehabilitate and modernize the San Fernando Airport in La Union, even as they eye the further development of the Poro Point Freeport Zone into a tourism and information technology (IT) hub in northern Luzon.

Lawyer Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said that there were already several groups that have expressed interest in undertaking the development of the airport.

“We’re now working on the TOR (Terms of Reference) for the bidding which we expect to hold within the year,” Casanova told transportation reporters in an interview at the sidelines of a BCDA press conference held yesterday to announce major projects for the year as they mark their 20th founding anniversary.

“There are many groups interested, actually,” Casanova shared.

He said that the airport could be a hub for tourists heading for the Poro Point’s Thunderbird Casino Resort, the beaches of San Fernando, Baguio City, and the other tourist areas in northern Luzon, especially with the closure of Baguio’s Loakan airport.

Casanova said that the development of the San Fernando Airport would help spur development in the area, benefitting the Poro Point Freeport Zone, as well as surrounding areas.

Felicito “Tong” Payumo, Jr., BCDA chairman, said that with the rapid development of their land assets in Metro Manila particularly in the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, the BCDA is now also focusing their attention to their properties outside the metropolis, such as the Clark Freeport Zone and the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

With the Thuderbird resort already operating, the presence of a first-class golf course, and and the establishment of fiber optic cables in La Union, Payumo said the infrastructure is there to promote tourism and to lure business process outsourcing firms to set up shop in the Poro Point ecozone.

“As you know, right there in Poro Point, the fiber optic cable of the telcos have already been established and developed. So we think it’s also a good area for BPOs, and IT related businesses,” Payumo said.

Aileen Zosa, BCDA executive vice president, said the BCDA has 35 hectares of lands ready for development in Poro Point, under their subsidiary Poro Point Management Corporation.

source

[litigs]

Originally Posted by hugodiekonig

We do have a 5-star resort. It is the Thunderbird Resort, a Santorini, Greece - inspired resort. Have you heard about this resort already? It is around 2 kilometers from the airport. It has a pool, 18-hole golf course, white sand beach, casino, 36 rooms, ongoing real estate project, etc.


Repost: Here's the google map of the Thunderbird Resort including the airport.



Here are some photos of Thunderbird Resort

Aerial View of the Thunderbird Resort Complex at Poro Point, La Union


Casino


Development Plan




Reposted from Thunderbird Resort Complex Thread

There you go!, you've got the right ingridient there and it looks promising. All it takes now is a good chef to cook the right recipe in marketing this place to charter operators. The only downside if true is the levy they imposed on airlines which makes the fare not attractive to locals hence the juice airline would rather go add flights in Caticlan where it can profit most.

[hugodiekonig]

Originally Posted by litigs

There you go!, you've got the right ingridient there and it looks promising. All it takes now is a good chef to cook the right recipe in marketing this place to charter operators. The only downside if true is the levy they imposed on airlines which makes the fare not attractive to locals hence the juice airline would rather go add flights in Caticlan where it can profit most.

airfare would be more profitable if only this tourism complex or the whole of La Union province as well would be promoted to farther places and overseas such as cities of Cebu, Legazpi, Naga, Davao, Hongkong. As far as what i see, we lack campaign on its tourism sector. I hope our officials could boost up promoting our province as a tourist spot so that flights to SFE would be more feasible

[hugodiekonig]

Photo by: 05P51

source

[hugodiekonig]

Photo by: Freecloud1971