โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Catarman National Airport (CRM/RPVF) is a significant regional aviation facility located in the municipality of Catarman, the capital of Northern Samar province in the Philippines. As the primary air link for the island of Samar, the airport provides essential transportation for local residents, government services, and regional commerce. It primarily facilitates scheduled domestic flights that connect Northern Samar with the national capital, Manila, often operated by major carriers such as Philippine Airlines via its regional subsidiary, PAL Express.
The terminal building is a functional and well-maintained facility designed to manage the regional passenger volume with Filipino hospitality. Inside, travelers will find a unified departures and arrivals hall, which includes basic check-in counters and a sheltered waiting lounge with seating and television monitors. Amenities at the airport are focused on the essentials, such as clean restroom facilities and several small kiosks offering local snacks, regional delicacies like pinato, and travel essentials. While the terminal is relatively compact, it provides a welcoming atmosphere for those traveling to and from the Visayas region.
Operational capacity at Catarman Airport is supported by a single paved runway (04/22) measuring approximately 1,350 meters in length, which is specifically designed to support regional turboprop aircraft such as the Bombardier Q400. Navigation through the terminal is exceptionally easy due to its compact and logical layout, ensuring short walking distances for all passengers. For ground transportation, the airport is located within a few kilometers of the Catarman town center, with tricycle services and local jeepneys readily available outside the arrivals hall to transport visitors to their final destination or local hotels.
๐ Connection Tips
Catarman National Airport (CRM) is a useful domestic airport for Northern Samar, but the real connection challenge usually sits in Manila or Cebu rather than in Catarman itself. The airport is small enough to be easy to use, and that is an advantage. The vulnerability is the thinness of the onward network. If a flight out of CRM slips, there may not be a convenient same-day replacement, especially if your larger itinerary depends on an international departure from Manila.
That makes terminal planning at NAIA more important than anything at Catarman. If the trip chains from an overseas arrival into a domestic Philippine Airlines or PAL Express sector, you need to know exactly which NAIA terminal is involved and how much time road traffic or inter-terminal transfer may require. Even a perfectly simple airport at the regional end cannot fix a fragile plan in Manila.
Use CRM as a regional spoke feeding the major hubs, not as part of a tight multi-ticket gamble. Leave real time in Manila or Cebu, keep baggage rules in mind for domestic sectors, and if the long-haul segment matters, consider overnighting at the hub instead of depending on a perfect same-day handoff from Samar. Catarman is easy to process; the upstream connection is where caution matters.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Allah Valley Airport (AAV) is a domestic airport located in Surallah, South Cotabato, Philippines, serving as a regional air facility primarily for general aviation, private charters, and occasional local flights. The airport does not host scheduled commercial airline services. Its terminal facilities are extremely basic, typically consisting of a rudimentary structure or a designated open area that functions as a waiting and staging area for passengers. The layout is minimalist, offering direct access from the small ground area to the tarmac and aircraft.
The airport features one unlighted asphalt runway (16-34) that is approximately 1,340 meters (4,396 feet) long. Operations are limited to daylight hours, specifically from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM local time. Due to its general aviation focus, there are no complex interconnected terminals or extensive ground facilities; all essential services are conducted within this singular, basic setup. Walking times from the entrance to the aircraft are negligible, usually mere seconds, highlighting its functional role for regional connectivity.
Amenities at Allah Valley Airport are exceptionally sparse. Passengers should not expect airline lounges, dedicated dining facilities, or retail shops. While there might be basic waiting areas, travelers are strongly advised to bring all necessary supplies, including food, water, and personal items. Parking facilities for both short-term and long-term stays are available. Security procedures are minimal, consistent with a small, general aviation airfield, primarily involving visual checks and coordination with pilots or charter operators.
๐ Connection Tips
Connections at Allah Valley Airport (AAV) are exclusively through general aviation and private charters, as the airport does not have scheduled commercial passenger services. Any "connections" made here are typically transfers between private flights or transitions to ground transportation. For travelers seeking to connect to the broader commercial aviation network in the Philippines, the primary gateway is General Santos International Airport (GES) or Francisco Bangoy International Airport (DVO) in Davao.
If your travel plan involves flying into AAV via a private charter and then connecting to a commercial flight, you must arrange ground transportation to GES, which is the closest major airport. The journey from Surallah to General Santos City can take approximately 1-2 hours by road, depending on traffic conditions. Public transport options like jeepneys, tricycles, and taxis are available around AAV, but pre-arranging your transfer to GES is highly recommended to ensure timely connections.
When planning multi-leg journeys, it is crucial to coordinate all segments directly with your private charter operator and commercial airlines. Do not assume inter-airport transfers or baggage handling. If arriving internationally, customs and immigration procedures must be completed at a designated international airport in the Philippines, such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila or Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB) before proceeding to AAV.
โ Back to Catarman National Airport