Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport

File:Aerial view of Tacloban Airfield.jpg

File:U.S. plane ruins after Jap air raid.jpg in flames after a Japanese air raid in Tacloban]]

File:A U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, center, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 prepares to drop supplies over Tacloban airfield in Tacloban, Leyte province, Philippines, Nov. 14, 2013 131114-N-BX824-209.jpg

First known as San Jose Airstrip, after the village where it is located, it was constructed as an airstrip for the US Air Force and a Seaplane base for the U.S. Navy by Seabees of the 88th Naval Construction Battalion at Leyte-Samar Naval Base[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/UnitListPages/NCB/088%20NCB.pdf 88th NCB unit history, NHHC, Seabee Archives, Port Hueneme] Ca during World War II. USAF units based here included the 43d Bombardment Wing (15 November 1944 – 16 March 1945), 345th Bombardment Group (1 January – 13 February 1945), 417th Bombardment Group (6 December–22, 1944), 49th Fighter Group (24 October – 30 December 1944), 348th Fighter Group (16 November 1944 – 4 February 1945), 421st Night Fighter Squadron (25 October 1944 – 8 February 1945), and the 547th Night Fighter Squadron (9 November 1944 – 11 January 1945).

After World War II, when the airport was converted for use in commercial aviation, it became known popularly as Tacloban National Airport. The airport was given its current name in honor of Daniel Z. Romualdez, a representative from Leyte who became the 10th speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives. He was the uncle of Imelda Romualdez Marcos, the wife of president Ferdinand E. Marcos.

On November 7–8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan roared through Tacloban and the Eastern Visayas Region. The Tacloban Airport was effectively destroyed by winds averaging to {{convert|195|mi/h|kph|abbr=on|sp=us|order=flip}} and a {{convert|13|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip|sp=us}} storm surge. The airport terminal and the control tower were utterly demolished, and the airport was rendered unusable. The airport reopened on November 11 initially for turboprop aircraft,{{cite news |work=GMA News|title=Tacloban Airport reopens three days after being declared 'ruined' |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/334924/economy/business/tacloban-airport-re-opens-three-days-after-being-declared-ruined|publisher=GMA Network|date=11 November 2013 |access-date=2013-11-12}} before reopening to A320 flights by November 14.{{cite news | date = 14 November 2013 | title = Airbus A320 allowed to resume flights to Tacloban | url = http://www.interaksyon.com/article/74816/airbus-a320-allowed-to-resume-flights-to-tacloban | author = Apolonio, Eric | publisher = Interaksyon.com | access-date = 1 January 2014 | archive-date = 21 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160421070709/http://interaksyon.com/article/74816/airbus-a320-allowed-to-resume-flights-to-tacloban | url-status = dead }}

On January 17, 2015, Pope Francis celebrated an open-air Mass that attracted nearly half a million pilgrims from all over the country at the airport apron to remember the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan.{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/16/world/pope-philippines-visit-typhoon/ |title=In wind and rain, Pope leads Mass for thousands in Philippines |author=Martinez, Michael |date=17 January 2015 |publisher=CNN International |access-date=2 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/01/17/1413938/pope-francis-braves-amang-moves-tacloban-homily |title=Pope Francis braves 'Amang,' moves Tacloban with homily |date=17 January 2015 |author=Diola, Camille |work=The Philippine Star|access-date=2 October 2015}}

File:DZR Airport New Terminal construction 2023-11-19.jpg

In 1997, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a study which indicated the need for expansion of Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, along with Legazpi Airport, Bacolod City Domestic Airport, and Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City.{{cite web |title=Bacolod Airport (BCD), Negros Island, Philippines |publisher=SPG Media Limited |date=January 6, 2007 |work=Airport Technology |url=http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/bacolod/ |access-date=October 16, 2022}}

Expansion works for the existing passenger terminal began in 2017 to address congestion in the airport.{{Cite news|title=Tacloban airport terminal expansion to be completed end of Feb. |first=Sarwell |last=Meniano |date=January 19, 2018 |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1022192 |access-date=October 16, 2022}} On March 16, 2018, the expanded passenger terminal was inaugurated.

Part of the development project is the construction of the new terminal building and the extension of the runway from {{convert|2100|to|2500|m|sp=us}}. These developments are necessary to make the airport an international airport by 2026.{{Cite news|title=Tacloban eyes international airport by 2025 |first=Sarwell |last=Meniano |date=January 24, 2023 |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193434 |work=Philippine News Agency |access-date=September 15, 2023}}

File:Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport departure hall (Tacloban, Leyte; 09-09-2022).jpg

Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport has a single-level terminal building. The departure area has one boarding gate, scanners, and a souvenir counter. The arrival area consists of a single baggage carousel, and a porters' assistance desk.

In 2017, construction began on the expansion of the passenger terminal building which added {{convert|1,100|sqm|sp=us}} of floor area and additional 275 seats in the pre-departure area. The additional seats increased the pre-departure area capacity to 635 seats, enough to accommodate passengers for at least three simultaneous flights, compared to 360 prior to the construction. The check-in area was also expanded.{{Cite news |last=Marcelo |first=Patrizia Paola C. |date=16 March 2018 |title=DoTr unveils expanded Tacloban airport terminal |work=BusinessWorld |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/dotr-unveils-expanded-tacloban-airport-terminal/ |access-date=5 April 2022}}

On September 15, 2020, then-House Majority Leader and Leyte's 1st district representative Martin Romualdez unveiled the approved design of the terminal.{{Cite news|title=Design of new passenger terminal building of Tacloban airport revealed |first=Erwin |last=Colcol |work=GMA News |date=September 15, 2020 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/755724/design-of-new-passenger-terminal-building-of-tacloban-airport-revealed/story/ |access-date=October 16, 2022}} Construction on the {{Philippine peso|1.96 billion|link=yes}} terminal with a capacity of 1,670 passengers started in the same year and is halfway complete as of March 2023.{{Cite news|title=Phase 1 of DZR Airport passenger terminal in Tacloban halfway complete |first=Marie Tonette M. |last=Marticio |date=March 16, 2023 |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/16/phase-1-of-dzr-airport-passenger-terminal-in-tacloban-halfway-complete |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=September 15, 2023}}

The airport has a single {{convert|2100|m|sp=us|adj=on}} runway running in a direction of 18°/36°. There are plans to extend the runway to {{convert|2500|m|sp=us}}.{{Cite news|title=Tacloban airport terminal project bidding set in June |first=Sarwell |last=Meniano |date=March 17, 2018 |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1029041 |access-date=October 16, 2022}} It would be implemented by 2025 to make the airport capable of handling international flights.

Other structures include a communications tower and an administrative building. The communications tower is located on the east end of the terminal building. It serves as the main communications facility of the airport. The administrative building houses the offices of airport staff and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Access to the airport from central Tacloban is served by the jeepney services on the Downtown-San Jose-Airport route, from Marasbaras route, and the service from nearby Palo. In 2010, an airport taxi service was opened to shuttle passengers from the airport to the city's Central Bus Terminal, the city's commercial area and other destinations such as the San Juanico Bridge and the MacArthur Landing Memorial in Palo and to Tacloban's suburbs.

{{Airport-dest-list

| Cebgo | Cebu

| Cebu Pacific |Davao,{{cite web |last1=Salcedo |first1=Dirk Andrei |title=Cebu Pacific links Davao with four new destinations |url=https://www.aviationupdatesph.com/2024/08/cebu-pacific-links-davao-with-four-new-destinations/ |website=Aviation Updates Philippines |access-date=6 August 2024}} Iloilo,{{cite news|last=Balaoing|first=Benise|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/4/cebu-pacific-opens-2-routes-from-iloilo-with-piso-sale-1313|title=Cebu Pacific opens two new routes from Iloilo|work=ABS-CBN News|date=September 4, 2024}} Manila

| PAL Express | Cebu, Manila

| Philippines AirAsia | Manila

}}

Data from Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).{{cite web|url=https://caap.gov.ph/aircraft-passenger-and-cargo-movements/|title=Aircraft, Passenger, and Cargo Movements|website=Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines|access-date=16 October 2022}}

• On August 4, 1984, a Philippine Airlines BAC One-Eleven 500 overshot runway 36 by {{convert|100|ft|m|sp=us|order=flip}} and landed at sea. All 70 passengers and five crew survived.{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19840804-0 |title=Accident description: BAC One-Eleven 527FK RP-C1182 Tacloban Airport (TAC) |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=2 October 2015}}
• On February 15, 2007, Philippine Airlines Flight 191 from Manila, performed by an Airbus A320, overshot the runway. There were no casualties among 113 passengers and six crew members. DZMM Correspondent Hector Go said the aircraft's front wheel ended up past the airstrip after the plane attempted to touch down in the middle of the runway around 7 a.m.{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/nation/385256/pal-plane-overshoots-runway-tacloban |author=Desacada-Garcia, Miriam |title=PAL plane overshoots runway in Tacloban |date=16 February 2007 |work=The Philippine Star|access-date=2 October 2015}}
• On February 13, 2009, Cebu Pacific Flight 651 arriving from Manila, performed by an Airbus A319,{{Cite web|title=Bird strike Incident Airbus A319-111 , 13 Feb 2009 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/58685 |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=16 October 2022}} suffered a bird strike upon landing at the airport, damaging the engine blades. Though the aircraft landed safely, its return flight was cancelled.{{cite news |work=GMA News|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/148725/news/regions/cebu-pacific-plane-grounded-by-bird-strike-in-tacloban |title=Cebu Pacific plane grounded by 'bird strike' in Tacloban |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=2 October 2015}}
• On January 17, 2015, a Bombardier Global 5000{{Cite web|title=Accident description |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20150117-0 |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=19 November 2022}} carrying Cabinet members Jojo Ochoa and Sonny Coloma, overshot the runway after it failed to take-off shortly after the Pope's plane took off. There were no casualties.{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/plane-crashes-in-tacloban-airport/ |title=Plane crashes in Tacloban airport |author=Amio,Armin |date=17 January 2015 |work=Manila Bulletin|access-date=2 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004121451/http://www.mb.com.ph/plane-crashes-in-tacloban-airport/ |archive-date=4 October 2015 }}
• On October 5, 2019, a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III was on its way to Edinburgh, Australia from Okinawa, Japan when it had an emergency landing at the airport at 12:48 p.m. after smoke was detected in the cockpit. The plane had eight crew members and 36 passengers. The aircraft departed for Australia two days later without further incident.{{Cite news|date=2019-10-07 |url=https://www.cnn.ph/regional/2019/10/7/australian-air-force-emergency-landing-tacloban-city.html |title=Australian Air Force plane leaves Tacloban airport |work=CNN Philippines}}

• List of airports in the Philippines
• United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre

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Category:Airports in the Philippines

Category:Buildings and structures in Tacloban

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the Philippines