The P959-million General Santos City International Airport passenger terminal building is now brewing as Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) held groundbreaking ceremony last February 23, 2017 at CAAP Office. According to GSC Tourism Council, the improved Gensan International Airport will have a spacious basketball-court-size lobby, two aerobridges and a state-of-the-art building management system.
The iconic design of the airport is inspired by the fins of tuna, the famous industry of the city. General Santos City is branded the Tuna Capital of the Philippines since it is the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the entire country.
Photo below shows the airside perspective of the terminal building equipped with an airbridge. An airbridge or jet bridge is an enclosed, movable bridge extending from an airport terminal gate to an airplane. Airbridge provides all-weather dry access to aircraft and enhance the security of terminal operations.
The expansion and renovation of existing passenger terminal building will initially cost 500 million and it will be constructed by VT Lao Construction and CB Garay Philwide Builders, Inc. It was awarded last December 29, 2016 and expected to be finished after 720 calendar days. Initial developments include the parking area which have been expanded already and a new carousel had been purchased. Here's the photo of the lobby area.
The General Santos City International Airport is just part of the greater Aerotroplis which is a major infrastructure project being pushed under the Mindanao Development Corridors. The proposed Aerotropolis will develop some 200 hectares of property surrounding the General Santos airport to a mix-used development that hosts business parks, amusement parks, hotels, shopping malls, etc.
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Photo credit to GSC Tourism Council. |
"General Santos City has the potential to be a hub for the consolidation of products and services due to its proximity to major economic centers of Mindanao and the BIMP-EAGA," MinDA Undersecretary Janet Lopoz said in a MindaNews article.
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The facade design of this new airport is inspired by the fins of Tuna, a fish which General Santos is known for. Photo credit to GSC Tourism Council. |