To get straight to the point, Boracay Island itself does not have an airport. That's a good thing because if it were so, it would occupy almost the whole island for itself.
In October 2018, the new Boracay Airport, officially known as the Boracay Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, opened its doors to the public. The airport is located in Barangay Caticlan, Malay, Aklan, just a few minutes away from the Caticlan Jetty Port, the main gateway to Boracay Island.
The new airport is designed to handle up to 2 million passengers per year, making it a significant upgrade from the old airport, which could only handle around 800,000 passengers per year.
The new airport features modern facilities and amenities, including a spacious terminal building, a VIP lounge, a food court, and retail shops.
Boracay Airport has 1 runway, which is 2,100 meters long, allowing it to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family. It also features an upgraded air traffic control system, which allows for smoother and more efficient aircraft operations.
One of the most significant improvements of the new airport is the faster and more efficient passenger processing system. Passengers can now complete the check-in process in just a few minutes, thanks to the new self-check-in kiosks and baggage drop-off counters.
Security screening is also faster, with state-of-the-art x-ray machines and metal detectors ensuring a smoother process.
Another improvement is the accessibility of the airport. The new airport has a direct access road that connects it to the Caticlan Jetty Port, which is the primary mode of transport for visitors going to Boracay Island. This means that visitors can now easily travel to and from the airport, reducing travel time and increasing convenience.
The new airport has also improved the overall tourism experience of Boracay Island. Visitors can now fly directly to the island, avoiding the hassle of taking multiple modes of transportation. This has increased the number of tourists visiting the island, boosting the local economy and providing employment opportunities for the locals.
In conclusion, the new Boracay Airport is a significant upgrade from the old airport, providing modern facilities, faster and more efficient passenger processing, and improved accessibility. It has made traveling to and from Boracay Island more convenient, increasing the island's popularity among tourists and boosting the local economy. With the new airport in place, Boracay Island is poised to continue its growth as one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines.
Before the extension the runway was only 950 Meter and only smaller turboprops, like the ATR 43/72 or Dash 8 could land there. With the jet planes the flight time from Manila to Boracay is only about 35 minutes.
In case of bad weather, the planes sometimes can not land at Boracay Airport and will be diverted to the bigger Kalibo International Airport. This will always cause some delays on later flights, because both, arriving and departing passengers need to be transferred by bus or van to and from Caticlan, which is a 1.5 hours trip already.
Transfer from Boracay-Airport to Boracay:
After landing at Boracay Airport, there are Tricycles and vans waiting outside, to bring the passengers to the nearby Caticlan Jetty Port. This costs 50 Peso per Tricycle you need. Please also read the report about the Transfer-Cost to Boracay.