Once the Candon City Community Airport opens, locals and visitors can enjoy a one-hour flight from Metro Manila as alternative to the seven-hour bus trips offered by existing land transport companies.
The project rises as a community airport within a 50-hectare complex in Brgy. Calaoaan. It is equipped with a 1.5-kilometer elevated runway.
To accommodate bigger planes, Candon City Community Airport can be upgraded into a domestic or international category depending on actual demand once it starts operating.
The groundbreaking happened on November 3, 2023, after securing a budget of Php270 million. During the ceremony, Candon City Mayor Eric Singson noted that the runway can be extended if needed.
Community airports are crucial during disasters and medical emergencies. Nearby places like Isabela, Lingayen, and Vigan have also built their own airfield for essential travel.
Announcements on interested air companies and flight destinations are yet to be made public.
Vigan Airport, also classified as a community airport, has a limited number of commercial flights going to Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) by Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific. One way airfare ranges from Php1,435 to Php4,464 based on published rate for flights from February 13, 2025 to March 31, 2025.
Candon City is known for its booming tobacco industry, producing the largest amount of Virginia tobacco in the Philippines. Recent developments in the city include the 8,000-seater Candon City Arena and Ilocos Sur Medical Center.
Meanwhile, a thoroughfare connecting Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province is in progress. The Ilocos Sur segment of the Cervantes-Besao-Sagada Road is also set for completion in 2026, reducing travel time from Candon City to Sagada to only two hours.
Top tourist destinations in the Ilocos regions include Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo, Calle Crisolo, Plaza Burgos, and Bantay Bell Tower.
The upcoming community airport and improved road network is expected to support the growth of local economies in Northern Luzon, making it easier to trade products and boost tourism.