Getting Around Iloilo City

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"Iloilo International Airport (Arrival)" Iloilo City Transportation Tip by machomikemd

Iloilo International Airport with pictures of the Departure Area.

The Iloilo International Airport is one of the most modern airport facilities in the Philippines and although it is designated as an International Airport, there is at present, no International Flight Coming and Going to the Airport. The area is the fourth busiest airport in the philippines after manila, cebu and davao and is the main gateway to the western visayas region of the country. It opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007, replacing Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City proper, and is located at 19 kilometers (12 mi) northwest of Iloilo City on a 188-hectare (460-acre) site in Barangay Duyan-Duyan, split between the municipalities of Cabatuan, where the airport proper is located, and Santa Barbara, where the airport entrance and access road are located. Major Airlines servicing the Airport include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways and Air Philippines Express having a total of 42 flights to and from the airport everyday. You can ride a taxi from the Iloilo City Proper to the Airport for 300 pesos a ride or have several jeepney rides from Iloilo City to the Airport or hire have a chartered van service which have contact numbers at the hotel lobbies of the hotels in Iloilo

address is: Iloilo Airport Access Rd, Cabatuan, Philippines

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Iloilo International Airport with pictures of the Arrival Area.

The Iloilo International Airport is one of the most modern airport facilities in the Philippines and although it is designated as an International Airport, there is at present, no International Flight Coming and Going to the Airport. The area is the fourth busiest airport in the philippines after manila, cebu and davao and is the main gateway to the western visayas region of the country. It opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007, replacing Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City proper, and is located at 19 kilometers (12 mi) northwest of Iloilo City on a 188-hectare (460-acre) site in Barangay Duyan-Duyan, split between the municipalities of Cabatuan, where the airport proper is located, and Santa Barbara, where the airport entrance and access road are located. Major Airlines servicing the Airport include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways and Air Philippines Express having a total of 42 flights to and from the airport everyday. You can ride a taxi from the airport to Iloilo City Proper for 300 pesos a ride or have several jeepney rides from the airport to Iloilo City or hire have a chartered van service which have counters at the arrival area.

address is: Iloilo Airport Access Rd, Cabatuan, Philippines

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The Jeepneys at Iloilo City and Province are of a different design than the typical philippine jeepneys. The usual jeepney design is lots of gaily decorations and paintings around the jeep and extra trinkets around like horse statues in front or assorted car decals at the front of the jeepney whereas the Iloilo style of Jeepneys are less about the trinkets and decorations and are more sleek in design and are patterned more as long passenger vans than jeepneys. They sit from 10 to 16 person, depending on the jeepney length and have the same second hand reconditioned truck diesel engines like their luzon jeepney counterparts. They ply to and around the City and the province with fix routes and you pay 9 pesos fora 4 kilometer ride (add an extra 1 peso per kilometer after the first 4 kilometers). You can find them everywhere.

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You Can rent private vans on a daily basis if you don't want to waste your time on riding the different mode of transport available going to and around Iloilo City and Province and Guimaras island. If you are on a budget or a back packer, then just take the jeepneys or taxis or the tricycles since they are cheaper but if you want to have more time to explore around the area and are not fuzzy about the expense of if with a large group of 5 or more, then the private vans are the means to go. You can hire these private vans at the airport since they have counters for private vans for hire, the going rate is 5,000 pesos a day (500 pesos per person if you are 10 in a group) and they can get you anywhere you like and wait for you while you go shopping or touring or eating and other activities. You can also hire them at the hotels.

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Philippine Airlines is the only legacy airline left in the philippines. Off course, flying domestic routes (like going here in Iloilo) via the airline is slightly more expensive than the other low cost carriers like Cebu Pacific or SEA AIR or Zest Air but you get more legroom, more baggage allowance, snacks served duing the flight and free water (cebu pacific charges everything!). Price are only 10 to 15% more expensive than the other low cost carriers.

PAL, what philippine airlines is called is older than cathay pacific making it Asia's Oldest Airline (and trivia-only PAL and Other Philippine Carriers are not subsidized by the Governent, bucking the trend in the rest of asia wherein other National carriers are heavily subsidiez by their Governments like Singapore Airlines, Thai Air, Malaysian Air, Royal Brunei, Emirates, Japan Airlines and others).

Philippine Airlines was founded on February 26, 1941, making it Asia's oldest carrier still operating under its current name. The airline was started by a group of businessmen led by Andres Soriano, hailed as one of the Philippines' leading industrialists at the time, who served as the General Manager, and former Senator Ramon Fernandez as Chairman and President. Government investment in September of the same year paved the way for its nationalization. Its main hub is at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the city of Parañaque with all its passenger flights involving Manila in Centennial Terminal 2.

Philippine Airlines location
PNB Financial Center
Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue
CCP Complex, Pasay City
e-mail : webmgr@pal.com.ph

Reservations
Manila, Philippines (24 hours)
Tel : (632) 855-8888
(632) 855-7888 for First Class, Mabuhay Class,
Mabuhay Miles Elite and
Premier Elite Members

For USA and Canada: 1-800-I-FLY-PAL
For Australia : 1-300-888-PAL

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If you wish to go to Bacolod from Iloilo, I suggest you use the Supercat ferry. There are four sailings in either direction each day and the 204 seater craft is fast and comfortable, although legroom is slightly cramped, although it is not a major problem for the short crossing.

When you enter the office in Iloilo the ticket office is on the right. I paid 360pesos for a single ticket. You then go through a quite rigorous security check, go to the little desk just beyond security where you will be allocated your seat. The waiting room was pretty crowded as you can see, but there are more seats upstairs if you fancy humping your luggage up there. There is a free wifi connection but I didn't use it so I don't know how good it is.

You are then escorted across the road and onto the craft for the journey.

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I had arrived in Iloilo on a bus form Caticlan and was duly deposited on the bus station which is absolutely on the outskirts of the city. I have mentioned this practice all over Asia, and the only thing I can imagine is that the bike / trike / tuktuk / jeepney mafias exert some sort of control over the siting of these facilities, I can think of no other reason.

I had already been relaibly informed that it is possible to get to the ferry port by jeepney but that it required changing in the centre of town. Being tired from a long journey, carrying luggage and unsure of the geography, I thought a tr8ike would be in order. I was completely besieged by trike drivers, all sking what I knew to be a ridiculously high price for the journey and, unusually, not apparently open to bargaining. I suppose they realise they have a captive audience and charge accordingly.

Eventually, I was able to negotiate a price of 100 pesos and the driver explained I would be sharing with two other women who were sitting nearby. Not a problem, there is more than enough room for all of us and I don't mind sitting in the back. After about ten minutes tying the luggage on the roof with a frayed piece of string (there was more than enough room in the back with me), off we set. We drove, more often on the hard shoulder than the road in traffic every bit as horrendous as Manila, which is notorious. The second image shows one such manoeuvre.

I do not scare easily but this was terrifying, especially viewed backwards, the guy really was mad. Eventually, we arrived at a place that didn't look much like a ferryport to me and it transpired that he had arranged to take them to a place miles from where I was going. Time is now ticking. I had left enough time to get there but not much to spare. Untie the luggage, which he gallantly transported inside for the ladies, then back and more time expended while he insisted on restowing mine on the roof, again totally needlessly.

The second part of the journey was unbelievable, driving up the wrong side of the road, on the pavement, squeezing through impossible gaps etc. but eventually, nerves completely frayed, we arrived. Then he started hassling me for a tip, despite having arranged a price. Even when I bought my ticket and re-emerged for a smoke, he was still hassling me.

My advice is to be very careful about trike drivers here and leave yourself plenty of time.

Departure: Flight No.: Flight 5J - 459

Manila (MNL) to Iloilo (ILO)
NAIA Terminal 3; Iloilo International Airport

Departure: 21 January 2011, Friday,1820 H
Arrival: 21 January 2011, Friday,1925 H

Return: Flight No.: Flight 5J - 460
Iloilo (ILO) to Manila (MNL)
Iloilo International Airport; NAIA Terminal 3

Departure: 23 January 2011, Sunday,1955 H
Arrival: 23 January 2011, Sunday,2100 H

Base Fare: PHP 2,798.00
Taxes & Fees: PHP 364.56
Web Admin Fee: PHP 100.00
Go Lite Discount: PHP -200.00

Total: PHP 3,062.56