The New Panglao International Airport: 
A Review and Traveler's Guide
Updated: January 2020

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View of the new Panglao International Airport facade from the tube (Photo © iHeartPH.com 2019)

​The new airport in Bohol was transferred from Tagbilaran to Panglao and just recently opened in November 2018 Good news to all Panglao travelers, the airport is now just 10-15 minutes away from Alona and Dumaluan Beaches, where most of the resorts are located. Bad news though to those staying in Tagbilaran City as it will now take you 30-40 minutes via bus/van to travel from the airport to where you are staying rather than the usual 10-15 minutes tricycle ride. 

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Entrance/exit for domestic arrivals in the new Panglao International Airport (Photo © iHeartPH.com 2019)


Reasons why I love this new airport:

  1. It’s huge, at least for a Tier 2 city airport! A far cry from the old Tagbilaran Airport which looked more like a bus station than an airport. At some point, due to its size, it has become overcrowded and couldn’t catch up with the increasing number of tourists.
  2. It’s the first eco-airport in the Philippines which uses air conditioning only in some areas and the rest uses natural ventilation.
  3. I love the exterior design – they say it’s supposedly mimicking the rolling waves of Panglao.
  4. There are plugs and charging stations almost everywhere. (Updated September 2019) However, recently they decided to cover and remove the outlets on the floor as it was an obvious hazard. These outlets are located in the middle of the walkway so people passing through with their luggages are getting tripped over and cellphones being charged are getting stepped on.
  5. Again, it’s only 10-15 minutes away from your resort wherever in Panglao.
  6. Public transportation going to and from your resort in Panglao is no longer a hassle. If you are staying in Alona Beach, the public buses will pass through Alona Beach first before heading to Tagbilaran.
  7. No waiting in line for the buses because the buses will be there outside of the airport waiting for everyone to board. There are a lot of buses going to and fro so they won’t run out. I’ve flown through this airport from Manila thrice now  since it became operational and there was not one trip where I had to wait for the bus.
  8. The fare is reasonable. Coming from the airport,  the fare is P40 to Alona Beach and P50 to Tagbilaran City, including Dao terminal. 
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Check-in area in the new Panglao International Airport (Photo © iHeartPH.com 2019)

Some of the things that need improvement on:

  1. We need more places to eat. As of March 2019, there are only 2 food booths at the ground floor. Don’t expect to find any restaurants in this airport where you can have a proper meal because there is none. So make sure have get your breakfast, lunch or dinner somewhere else before heading for the airport.
  2. We can use more seats. The airport is huge but the seats are limited only to a certain portion of the departure area, both lower and upper floors. I saw some travelers had to stand up or sit on the floor while waiting for boarding.
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Airport buses waiting outside the airport during one of my trips to Bohol (Photo © 2019 iHeartPH.com)

​How do I go to Alona Beach or Tagbilaran from the airport?
You can always rent a private car or van from the airport to wherever you need to be in Bohol. Klook offers both Private Transfers from Panglao Airport or Shared Transfers. Or perhaps check with your resort if they are offering free/paid airport transfers. Through public transport, here is what you need to do:
  1. Go outside the airport and the buses to Tagbilaran will be waiting there.
  2. Hop on on one of the buses and tell the driver/conducter where you are headed.
  3. Pay the indicated fare. As of 2019, the fare to Tagbilaran and Dao Terminal is P50 and Alona Beach is P40. 

How do I go to the airport from Alona Beach or Tagbilaran?
Going to Alona Beach or Tagbilaran from the airport is pretty straightforward but going to the airport would require you to do the following:
 
  1. If you are coming from any point of Bohol (except Panglao), head to Dao Integrated Bus Terminal. If you are coming from Tagbilaran City, you can go to Dao Integrated Bus Terminal via tricycle.
  2. If you are coming from other towns in Bohol, options like jeepneys, buses and v-hires (vans) should be available and traversing along the national roads. Just ask your resort where you need to be to be able to board and head to Dao Integrated Bus Terminal.
  3. Once you get to the Dao Integrated Bus Terminal, look for and board the Southern Star Bus with Tagbilaran to Panglao Airport signage. 
  4. The bus will pass through some other villages/barangays in Panglao but the endmost point should be at the Panglao Airport. So if you are coming from Alona Beach, just walk up to the main road and wait for the airport buses there.

Again, you also have the option to book a Shared Transfer from Panglao to Airport ahead of time or if you are coming from other parts of Bohol such as Anda, Loboc and Tagbilaran, you can book here: Private Transfers between Panglao Airport to Other Parts of Bohol
 
Which places does the airport bus pass through and how much is the fare?
Here are the bus route and fare coming from Tagbilaran City: 
  • Totolan/Mariveles – P15
  • Tinago – P20
  • Lourdes – P25
  • Libaong Acacia – P25
  • Crystal E – P30
  • Poblacion/Looc – P35
  • Daorong Danao – P40
  • Alona – P40
  • Panglao Airport – P50

How many minutes or hours is the travel time from Tagbilaran to the new Panglao Airport?
The travel time will depend on whether you are in a private vehicle or in a public bus. If you are taking the public bus, it will take you about 45-60 minutes. So make sure you consider these timings when you have a flight to catch.

If you have your own vehicle and won't be passing through any other places and just going directly from Tagbilaran to the new Panglao airport, it will only take you around 30-45 minutes depending on the traffic in Tagbilaran. Yes, traffic in Tagbilaran has become heavier through the years. Heavy traffic usually happens during early mornings and late afternoons, basically during rush hours but I believe there are government actions set in place to somehow ease the traffic congestion.

Read about Tagbilaran Traffic: http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2018/04/11/tagbilaran-traffic-delays-travel-time/​

PictureBuses outside of the airport during evening (Photo © 2018 Department of Transportation)
Which airlines fly through Bohol and to/from which destinations?
Currently, there are 4 airlines which operate in the new Panglao Airport -- Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Air Asia. Here are the current routes being served:
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  1. Philippine Airlines - to/from Manila, Davao and Clark
  2. Cebu Pacific Air - to/from Manila, Davao, Clark and Cagayan de Oro
  3. Air Asia - to/from Manila

Philippine Airlines used to travel to and from Incheon (South Korea) International Airport but have recently ceased operation until further notice. Read: http://www.boholchronicle.com.ph/2019/02/12/pal-stops-korea-bohol-flights/​

​To book your hotel/resort in Bohol at budget-friendly prices, click on the Agoda and Booking.com boxes below to start searching:
Booking.com

​To check out prices and book your countryside and island hopping tours in Bohol, click on the Klook box below:
Klook.com

OTHER DESTINATIONS IN BOHOL

KEY CONTACTS

To book your countryside tour, you may call/text Kuya John at +639161765683. He is able to offer a car for smaller groups (4 people max) or a van for bigger groups (12 people max).
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