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| Bancasi Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bancasi Airport |
| Nativename | Laguindingan Airport (note: do not link) |
| Iata | LGP |
| Icao | RPMR |
| Type | Public |
| Owner-operator | Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines |
| City-served | Butuan, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte |
| Location | Bancasi, Butuan, Mindanao, Philippines |
| Elevation-ft | 98 |
| Runway | 06/24 2,100 m Asphalt |
Bancasi Airport is an airport serving the city of Butuan and the surrounding Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur provinces in northeastern Mindanao, Philippines. The airport functions as a regional hub connecting provincial centers such as Surigao City, Tandag, and Cagayan de Oro to metropolitan gateways including Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City. Operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the facility handles scheduled commercial flights, general aviation movements, and emergency services supporting regional transport networks like the Pan-Philippine Highway corridor.
Bancasi Airport occupies land within the barangay of Bancasi in Butuan and sits near major waterways like the Agusan River. The aerodrome uses ICAO code RPMR and IATA code LGP, featuring a single runway aligned 06/24 and basic terminal infrastructure that serves carriers operating turboprop and narrow-body jet aircraft such as the ATR 72 and Airbus A320 family. Its strategic position links the Caraga region to national centers including Metro Manila, Central Visayas, and the Davao Region, facilitating passenger flows tied to sectors involving Philippine tourism, regional commerce, and disaster response coordination with agencies like the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The airport originated as a modest airstrip during the mid-20th century, developed amid post-war reconstruction efforts involving stakeholders such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and local administrations of Butuan City. Expansion phases occurred alongside national aviation policy shifts overseen by the Philippine Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, with runway extensions and terminal upgrades undertaken to meet increasing demand from carriers including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines. The facility has been part of regional development plans coordinated with entities like the National Economic and Development Authority and has hosted military and humanitarian flights linked to operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and international relief organizations such as the International Red Cross during natural disasters in Caraga.
The airport features a single asphalt runway (06/24) approximately 2,100 metres long, apron parking for multiple turboprops, and a passenger terminal with check-in counters, security screening, baggage handling, and basic passenger amenities. Ground support capabilities include refueling services provided under regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and firefighting/rescue units certified to ICAO standards. Navigation and safety systems encompass aerodrome lighting, communication facilities linked to the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center, and instrument procedures compatible with regional operators such as Philippine Airlines Cebu and Cebu Pacific Air.
Scheduled services at the airport have included flights operated by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines, connecting to destinations such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan–Cebu International Airport, and Francisco Bangoy International Airport. The route network has varied with seasonal demand, carrier fleet changes involving types like the ATR 72 and Airbus A320 family, and regulatory developments from the Civil Aeronautics Board (Philippines). Charter and general aviation operators from hubs like Clark International Airport and Iloilo International Airport have periodically used the facility for ad hoc services.
Airport access is provided via local roads linking to the Pan-Philippine Highway and city thoroughfares in Butuan City, with taxi services, shuttle vans, and private vehicles routinely transporting passengers to urban centers and nearby municipalities such as Nasipit and Buenavista. Modal connections extend to bus operators servicing routes toward Surigao City and Cagayan de Oro, while logistics and cargo movements interface with regional freight handlers operating out of nearby ports like Nasipit Port. Coordination with local government units in Agusan del Norte and provincial transport offices facilitates access improvements and intermodal links.
Passenger and aircraft movement statistics have reflected regional travel trends, with annual passenger volumes influenced by domestic tourism to destinations in Sibagat, Siargao Island, and protected areas such as the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as commercial travel tied to the mining and agricultural sectors in the Caraga region. Traffic peaks correspond to holiday periods and festival events in Butuan and surrounding localities, while cargo throughput tracks shipments of agricultural produce and manufactured goods destined for markets in Cebu and Manila.
Operational history includes routine safety reports and periodic incident investigations conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and, when applicable, the Air Transportation Office predecessors, covering occurrences such as runway excursions, birdstrike events involving species from the Agusan River wetlands, and minor ground handling incidents. Major accidents have not defined the airport's profile in recent decades, with emergency responses coordinated among agencies including the Philippine Coast Guard and local emergency medical services.