Surigao Airport experienced significant damage caused by the 2017 Surigao earthquake, and it was closed for two weeks for repairs. Cebgo and PAL Express, the two airlines serving the airport at the time, utilized Bancasi Airport in Butuan in the meantime. The airport reopened on 23 February 2017 with limited runway capacity of 1,000 meters.[2][3]
The work began on the runway's rehabilitation on August 7, 2019, with completion target of November 2019 for the repair of the first 1,400 meters with the remaining 300 meters repaired by February 2020. The runway's partial operation of 1,400 meters, up from 1,000 meters, can accommodate direct flights between Manila and Surigao.[4][5][6][7]
The newly renovated and expanded Sayak Airport on Siargao Island has received the bulk of tourism flights since the 2017 earthquake, significantly reducing air traffic to and from this Mindanao mainland airport.
By the late 2020s, the airport will relocate to Brgy. Balibayon in the future.
Infrastructure
Surigao Airport has one runway that is designated 18/36 and measures 1,700 metres (5,600 ft).[2]