Beyond NAIA: Regional Airports Are Changing The Game
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the country’s busiest gateway. Serving Metro Manila, it’s crowded not only with passengers but also with brands fighting for attention. Even with prime placements, your message can easily get lost in the clutter.
But here’s the good news: NAIA isn’t the only stage your brand can be on.
Across the Philippines, regional airports are becoming powerful advertising platforms, such as:
Clark International Airport
Kalibo International Airport
Caticlan’s Godofredo P. Ramos Airport
Bacolod-Silay International Airport
Bohol-Panglao International Airport
Cagayan de Oro’s Laguindingan Airport
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport
These hubs are all showing their own potential to rival the growth in opportunities and quality of experience that one central hub may not cover alone. These regional airports offer something a lot more valuable than what meets the eye: focused audiences, less clutter, and unique positioning—helping your brand stand out in ways that NAIA may not do.
Each regional airport will have something important to offer and being present in as many touchpoints regionally can be more of an advantage than being in one central location.
Let’s take a closer look at some of them.
Clark International Airport: Where Business Meets Travel
Think of Clark as NAIA’s quieter but more strategic cousin that keeps it lowkey. It’s the main gateway for Central and Northern Luzon and is fast becoming the go-to alternative for travelers from Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and even Metro Manila.
Photos owned by New Clark City and ClarkGreenCity
Why Clark Works for Advertisers:
Passenger Growth - Increasing international flights and a steady rise in users.
Diverse Demographics - A mix of OFWs, international tourists, executives, and affluent passengers.
Premium Look & Feel - Its spacious, natural-light-filled interiors create a sleek backdrop for ads. It also has its Award-Winning Design inspired by the Arayat mountain range, perfect for brand visuals.
Built for Expansion - Already at 8M passenger capacity, with more planned.
Business Hub - Surrounded by multinational companies, BPOs, logistics, and manufacturing.
High-Spending Travelers - Executives, expatriates, and business leaders are regular flyers here.
Lifestyle Ecosystem - Resorts, golf courses, retail centers, and entertainment venues nearby.
Government Investment - Continuous infrastructure development to support growth.
Kalibo International Airport: Culture, Heritage, and Tourism in One Stop
Kalibo is a hub of culture, heritage, and trade. Known for its luxury piña textile industry and the world-renowned Ati-Atihan Festival, Kalibo connects advertisers to audiences who value tradition, craftsmanship, and celebration.
Photos owned by Richard Collete from Travel Tramp and Mae Ilagan from When in Manila*
Why Kalibo Works for Advertisers:
Cultural Heritage - Primary producer of piña cloth, a luxury textile exported to global fashion houses like Gucci or homegrown designer brands like Filip+Ina.
Luxury Export Appeal - Strong demand from North America and Europe.
Festival Power - Home of the Ati-Atihan Festival, the 'Mother of All Philippine Festivals.'
Tourism Magnet - Consistent flow of domestic and foreign tourists year-round.
Record Crowds - In 2024, 36,700 participants and nearly 11,000 tourists joined Ati-Atihan events.
Amplified Visibility - Seasonal spikes mean your ads get noticed when tourism is at its peak.
Bacolod-Silay Airport: Trade Meets Outsourcing
Aside from its delicious Chicken Inasal, Bacolod is also known as the 'Sugar Bowl of the Philippines.' But these days, it’s also making its name known as one of the country’s top BPO centers. That mix of traditional trade and modern outsourcing creates a dynamic advertising environment.
Photos owned by TVDS + Radio Philippines Network and Jobyoda
Aside from its delicious Chicken Inasal, Bacolod is also known as the 'Sugar Bowl of the Philippines.' But these days, it’s also making its name known as one of the country’s top BPO centers. That mix of traditional trade and modern outsourcing creates a dynamic advertising environment.
Why Bacolod Works for Advertisers:
Sugar Powerhouse - Produces over half of the nation’s sugar.
Global Trade Links - Central to sugar exports since the 19th century.
Proven Export Volume -25,300 MT of raw sugar exported to the U.S. in 2024 alone.
Economic Stability - Agriculture remains a resilient driver despite global shifts.
BPO Strength - Hosts global outsourcing firms with steady demand.
Talent Pool - Large, English-proficient workforce with strong service skills.
24/7 Business Cycle - Constant movement supported by transport and lifestyle infrastructure.
High-Frequency Flyers - OFWs, investors, and BPO executives travel regularly.
The Bigger Picture
Here’s the truth: large international gateways will always draw in many brands due to their established prestige. But when your ad feels buried in the clutter, you need alternatives that give you clarity and impact. So to break it down:
Choose Clark for its premium exposure to executives and international travelers in a thriving business hub.
Choose Kalibo for Cultural and tourism-driven audiences, with seasonal surges and global heritage appeal.
Choose Bacolod for strong ties to trade and a booming BPO industry with constant business travel.
Regional airports may not individually have the same numbers as NAIA, but the volumes are steady and rising, especially when you look at the growing volumes collectively. Don’t underestimate their regional locations because these airports and destinations give you even better values: focus, relevance, and distinction. And in today’s noisy advertising world, that’s exactly what brands need to get a leg up in the game.
So why not take a different approach to you advertising strategy? Contact us now!
