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Category Archives: Airports
New ramps for enplaning/deplaning
We were able to use the ramps I mentioned in a previous post. In a recent trip to Cagayan De Oro, we deplaned from the forward door of the aircraft where the ramp was engaged. Here are the photos showing a closer look at different sections of the ramp.
The first ramp upon exiting the aircraft
The second ramp section with passengers basically facing the plane
Final (lower) ramp sections
A look back to the ramps before we walked to the passenger terminal building
I wonder how many of these have been made and deployed at airports around the country…
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Persons-with-disabilities- and senior citizen-friendly ramps for aircraft
The trip to Cagayan De Oro via Laguindingan Airport allowed me to take photos of the new ramps being used in our airports. These ramps are suitable for persons with disabilities and senior citizens who may have difficulties ascending or descending the usually steep stairs of aircraft from or to the ground. Not all airports have the tube or bridges connecting the terminal to the plane. Here are some of the photos I took at Laguindingan Airport prior to boarding our plane to Manila.
Compare the ramps to the conventional stairs for the rear door of the aircraft.
Meanwhile, smaller aircraft such as the turboprop plane below have built-in stairs. But these planes are lower compared to the larger Airbus 321’s we flew on our way back home.
I also saw the same ramps at NAIA when we deplaned near Terminal 3. But it seems Cebu Pacific is the only local airline who are using these? We hope there would be more of these in every airport in the country. That will definitely be for the benefit of all and not just those with physical disabilities or physically-challenged.
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Airport access by bus at NAIA Terminal 3
The recent trip also afforded me some quick photos of the arrival level driveway of NAIA Terminal 3. Here are some photos including those of airport taxis and buses serving the terminal and its passengers.
The arrival level (ground level) driveway is not very crowded at 5:30 AM.
From Bay 11 there are taxis and express (e.g., P2P) buses waiting for their passengers. There are booths on the terminal side for those making inquiries or booking their rides. That’s the Runway Manila pedestrian bridge connecting Terminal 3 to the Resorts World Manila complex at the top part of the photo.
Airport P2P buses include those headed for Clark.
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Another look at Laguindingan Airport
A quick trip to Cagayan De Oro allowed me to take a few more photos of the airport at Laguindingan. Here are more photos of the airport including the runway and the major buildings.
A look at the length of Laguindingan’s runway as our plane turned towards the terminal
From L-R: hangar, cargo terminal, passenger terminal and control tower
A closer look at (L-R) the cargo terminal, passenger terminal and control tower
The passenger terminal and control tower
Laguindingan’s cargo terminal
Air Asia plane at the passenger terminal
The Air Asia plane did not use the bridge for embarking/disembarking passengers
Bridge access to the terminal
An arriving passenger’s view of transport service providers upon exiting the airport terminal
Air traffic control tower.
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Laguindingan Airport – departure
I almost forgot to post this item on Laguindingan Airport. It somehow got lost among the many drafts I had already started but remained unfinished. Here is the departure part of the feature on Laguindingan Airport, which is now the major gateway to Northern Mindanao. The layout and design of the airport reminded me of Iloilo’s International Airport what with the spur road, parking lot and driveways that are somewhat similar between the two airports.
Approaching the airport
Parking lot across from the terminal building
Driveway at the departure area – taxis and other PUVs use this driveway
Driveway for private vehicles
Check-in counters
Cebu Pacific counters
Philippine Airlines counters
View of the airline check-in area as we ascend to the departure level via escalator
Pre-departure area
Pre-departure area
Pre-departure area
Shops at the terminal’s pre-departure area
Charging station at the pre-departure area
Not shown in the photos are other shops and restaurants in the pre-departure area including the Seattle’s Best Coffee and Kenny Rogers Roasters. There are also good souvenir items for sale at the many concessionaires at the pre-departure area. Among those to be considered for some last minute shopping are food and beverage items like peanuts, pastries and coffee. There’s also a shop selling meat products, which I highly recommend. They have hams and bacon for sale, which they package well so it survives the trip all the way to your home.
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Laguindingan Airport – arrival
A few years ago, Cagayan De Oro’s airport was closed in favour of a new airport located in another town, Lagundingan. My first time to visit Laguindingan Airport was when it was still under construction almost a decade ago. Afterwards, I had not had the chance to visit Cagayan De Oro again to use either the old or new airports. A recent trip to CDO provided an opportunity to finally see the airport and take some photos I could share here. The following photos were taken last July 2018.
A view of the airport terminal as our plane taxied towards it after landing at the airport
A view of the terminal as our plane berthed to unload passengers
Deplaning passengers pass through the airbridge to the terminal building
Ads for hotels and transport greet arriving passengers
Passengers file into the baggage claim area
The baggage claim area only has a couple of racetracks so I assume one is generally for Cebu Pacific and another for PAL. It also means the airport is not equipped (at least for baggage claims) to handle more than 2 flights arriving within minutes of the others.
The baggage claim area can get very crowded. These are just fellow passengers from an A320 plane.
Another photo of the crowded area around one carousel in the baggage claim area
Meanwhile, the area around the other carousel/racetrack is clear of people
Here is what the baggage claim area looks like when passengers have exited
Tourism booths at the airport’s arrival area – one obviously is promoting whitewater rafting, which is quite popular for tourists visiting CDO.
Tourism booth of the Province of Misamis Oriental
Assistance desk of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which is generally in-charge of airport operations in the country. This agency headed by an Assistant Secretary-level official is under the DOTr.
Automatic teller machine (ATM) and a glimpse of the concessionaires at the departure level of the airport terminal
Passengers exiting the terminal
Arriving passengers are greeted by many booths with people offering transportation services between the airport and various destinations including CDO and Iligan City.
Here’s a view of the terminal building as we walked towards our vehicle.
The airport’s control tower
A view of our plane as we drove away from the airport to head for Cagayan De Oro City, which was more than an hour’s travel from the terminal.
More photos on Laguindingan Airport in the next post!
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Another look at NAIA Terminal 4 departure
Here’s another set of photos care of a good friend who recently went through NAIA’s Terminal 4 en route to Palawan. Terminal 4 was what many people used to call the Manila Domestic Terminal. This was because it used to be the terminal for all domestic flights via Manila.
The concierge’s desk greets travelers as they enter the terminal.
The terminal’s airline check-in area appears to be very spacious.
It was an early morning flight for my friend and that’s probably why, she says, it was much less crowded at the time she checked-in for her flight.
Passengers waiting for their boarding calls – the concessionaires are visible to the back in the photo.
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A quick look at the Puerto Princesa airport terminal – departure
I asked a good friend to take a few photos of the airports she used in her recent trip to Palawan. Here is the first batch consisting of pictures of the pre-departure area of Puerto Princesa airport. It’s been a while since my last travel to Palawan and that was through its old airport terminal.
Here’s a look at the pre-departure area of the terminal. It is obviously a significant upgrade from the old terminal.
Here’s another look at the spacious are for passengers as they await their boarding calls.
Here are some of the food concessionaires at the terminal.
Passengers have a lot of choices for food and drinks as they wait for their flights.
I hope to be back in Palawan in the near future for some R&R and perhaps take more photos of this terminal for another article.
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Another look at Suvarnabhumi Airport – departure, Part 3
Here are the rest of the photos for this series on Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Here’s another look at some of the shops inside the terminal
Here is a view of the grand display at the departure concourse after you clear immigration.
For those who did their shopping in Thailand, VAT refund is available at the airport. Just make sure you kept your receipts.
King Power duty free shops
Information boards
I like to say that a highlight of my recent travel to Bangkok was enjoying mango with sticky rice at the airport. Bangkok is famous for its street food and this is comfort food for me.
More shops greet you on the way to the boarding gates. These are actually the last ones prior to the boarding gates and present the last chance for some shopping.
A view of one of the piers (there are 6) of the airport terminal.
Moving walkways help passengers get to the boarding gates along the long piers emanating from the main terminal building. But if you want to have some exercise and increase your step count then you might opt to do some brisk or relaxed walking.
There is always these cultural-religious elements inside this modern terminal that remind you that you are in Thailand.
I enjoyed my mango with sticky rice while waiting for my boarding call.
Ramp to the pre-boarding lounge before the gate
I’m looking forward to traveling to Cebu soon. Although the new terminal is for international flights, I hope to get some photos from the tarmac. And who knows if there is a chance to take a few opportunistic shots of the interior?
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Another look at Suvarnabhumi Airport – departure, Part 2
Previously, I posted on my arrival at the airport prior to my return to Manila. Here’s a continuation with more photos of the terminal at the departure level of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Display depicting a temple greeting people as they enter the terminal
Travelers check the information board for their designated airline check-in counters
Direction signs and luggage wrapping services at the airport
Somebody said it is easy to get lost in a terminal this spacious.
Just follow the signs and the information boards
Here’s a closer look at one of the information boards showing departing flight information such as the status of outbound flights and the designated check-in counters.
Among my favourites at Suvarnabhumi Airport are these sentinel-like figures “watching over” the busy airport.
Thai Airways check-in counters designated for my flight back to Manila – there were no queues as there were more than enough counters and staff to handle passengers as of the time I checked-in. It helped that I checked-in online so I went directly to the bag-drop counters for my luggage and my boarding pass.
Going up the escalator for the final airport security check and the immigration counters, I took this photo of the spacious terminal.
Here’s another shot just before I placed my phone in my backpack prior to the security check.
Upon clearing immigration, one is greeted by yet another display. I already featured this in previous (old) posts on the airport where I showed some close-ups.
The ways to the boarding gates are lined up with shops.
Here are more shops along the way.
There are the usual souvenir shops, boutiques, and the cafes and restaurants for those who need refreshments.
More photos in the last instalment of this series!
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Caught (up) in traffic 