Direct international flights from General Santos may soon become a reality following a September 9, 2025 meeting between city officials and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to discuss operational plans for the General Santos International Airport (GSIA). The dialogue was initiated after GSIA Manager Joel G. Gavina invited City Mayor Lorelie Geronimo Pacquiao to discuss preparations for international operations. Pacquiao welcomed the move, calling it a significant step toward positioning General Santos City as a “potential global gateway for Mindanao,” which would boost tourism, trade, and job creation. The meeting came after discussions in the House of Representatives during the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) 2026 budget presentation, where South Cotabato 2nd District Representative Ferdinand Hernandez urged the DOTr to outline long-term plans for GSIA. Hernandez emphasized the need for foresight, especially as the airport’s current infrastructure was designed for lower air traffic volumes during the Aquino administration. CAAP Deputy Director General for Administration Danjun Lucas acknowledged that the agency had been “reactive” in developing GSIA and was overtaken by increased passenger demand post-pandemic. While the airport is technically ready for regional international flights, customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) facilities remain inadequate. A P92 million allocation was approved for passenger terminal improvements, but Hernandez stressed the need for CIQ facilities to be completed before declaring GSIA capable of handling international flights. CAAP also plans to revive the “aerotropolis” concept, an airport-centered urban economic development. Residents like Ezylle Diane Mendoza, whose sister works in the UK, expressed hope that direct international flights would ease travel, eliminating the need for connecting flights through cities like Davao or Cebu. Despite being designated an “international” airport in 1996, GSIA currently serves only domestic flights and has yet to host regular international routes.
