What is the main airport in Palawan?

Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS) is the main and largest airport in Palawan. It has the most frequent flights, connecting to Manila, Cebu, and Clark on airlines like Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

Can I fly directly from another country to Coron or El Nido?

No. There are no direct international flights to any Palawan airport. All travellers must connect through Manila (MNL) or, less commonly, Cebu (CEB) on a domestic carrier.

Which airline flies directly to El Nido?

AirSWIFT is the only airline that operates direct flights to El Nido's Lio Airport (ENI) from Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Coron. They use small turboprop aircraft.

Is it better to fly into Coron or El Nido?

It depends entirely on your itinerary. Fly into Coron (USU) for wreck diving and Coron Island tours. Fly into El Nido (ENI) for immediate access to the Bacuit Archipelago lagoons. They are far apart and connected only by a long ferry ride.

How long is the van ride from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?

The van ride takes between 5 and 7 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic. It is a paved but winding and uncomfortable journey.

What is an open-jaw flight ticket?

An open-jaw ticket means you fly into one airport (e.g., Puerto Princesa) and depart from another (e.g., Coron). This avoids the need to backtrack overland or by sea, saving you significant time.

How much is the environmental fee in El Nido?

The environmental fee for island hopping in El Nido is 200 PHP per person. It is collected in cash at the port before your tour departs and covers conservation and site maintenance across the Bacuit Archipelago. The rate is set by the local tourism office and may change without notice.

Flights to Palawan: Routes, Airports & When to Book

On prices: the figures on this page were gathered in September 2026 and are given as bands rather than current quotes. Rates, fees and timetables change every season - check with the operator before you book.

The morning ferry from Coron to El Nido is pitching hard. The passenger across from you is turning a shade of green you did not know was possible. They took the cheap flight to Puerto Princesa three days ago, then spent a full day in a cramped van to reach the northern coast. You flew direct to El Nido. You are merely tired. This is the single most important choice you will make for your Palawan trip. The wrong airport costs you a full day of your vacation and turns a dream itinerary into a gruelling transit schedule.

The Three Gateways to Palawan

Palawan flights all connect through Manila or Cebu. No international flights land directly on the island. Your choice is not which island to fly to, but which of three distinct regions you want to start in. Each airport serves a different part of Palawan, and the overland and sea connections between them are slow, expensive, and uncomfortable. Your first night’s accommodation determines your airport, not the other way around.

Book a one-way fare into one airport and out of another. This open-jaw strategy is the only way to avoid backtracking. The most common pair is flying into Puerto Princesa and out of Coron, or the reverse. Another smart combination: fly into Puerto Princesa and out of El Nido, skipping the five-hour van ride back south.

Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPS)

Puerto Princesa is the main airport and your only option if your first stop is the Underground River or you are heading south to Port Barton or San Vicente. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines operate 10 to 18 flights daily from Manila. There are also 3 to 6 daily flights from Cebu on Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. This is the cheapest and most frequent arrival point. That low fare is a trap if your final destination is El Nido or Coron. The van ride from the capital to El Nido takes 5 to 7 hours and costs 600 to 800 PHP for a shared seat or 10,000 to 14,000 PHP for a private vehicle.

Francisco B. Reyes Airport (USU) in Busuanga

Fly into USU if Coron town is your base. This airport on Busuanga Island puts you 40 minutes by van from the WWII wreck diving and the lakes of Coron Island. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirSWIFT, and Sunlight Air operate flights from Manila. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines also connect from Cebu. This is an efficient arrival point for a Coron-focused itinerary.

Lio Airport (ENI) in El Nido

AirSWIFT is the sole operator flying directly into El Nido on small turboprop aircraft. Choose this if your time is limited and you want immediate access to the Bacuit Archipelago. The flight from Manila takes about one hour. The airport is just 4 km from El Nido town, a short tricycle ride away. The ticket price is higher, but you save a full day of brutal overland travel. The free baggage allowance on AirSWIFT is 10 kg checked and 7 kg carry-on. Excess baggage costs roughly 150 to 200 PHP per kg at check-in, though rates shift so confirm when you book.

Puerto Princesa Airport Flights

This is your primary domestic gateway and the hub for the major Philippine carriers. Flights into the capital are numerous and connect to multiple domestic hubs. Use PPS as your entry point if you are doing the Underground River, exploring the southern parts of the island like Port Barton and San Vicente, or embarking on a liveaboard to Tubbataha Reefs.

The key advantage is flight frequency and lower cost. The key disadvantage is the long, punishing road journey required to reach the northern attractions. Budget an entire day for the ride to El Nido. Do not make the common mistake of landing in the capital and expecting to reach El Nido in time for an afternoon activity. It will not happen.

Coron Airport Flights

Francisco B. Reyes Airport serves the northern region centred on Coron town. Flights into Coron connect you directly to the heart of the wreck diving and island-hopping circuit. This is a functional, no-frills airport that gets you where you need to be with minimal fuss.

The ride to Coron town takes about 40 minutes. Pick this airport if you want to focus your entire trip on the Coron area: diving the Irako Wreck, swimming in Kayangan Lake, and exploring the history of Culion Island. It is the wrong choice if your goal is the lagoons of El Nido. The ferry between the two towns is a 4 to 5 hour journey, and rough weather cancels it often. Book the earliest departure and accept that you will lose the day.

El Nido Airport Flights

AirSWIFT operates all flights into El Nido. This is the premium, time-saving option. You pay more for the ticket. You buy back a day of your vacation. For anyone with seven days or less in Palawan, this is the only rational choice if El Nido is your primary destination.

The aircraft are small. Pack light and respect the baggage allowance. As you descend into Lio Airport, the limestone karsts fill the window. From there, take a quick, cheap tricycle to your hotel. You can be on an island-hopping tour the very next morning. The tradeoff is cost and limited flight availability. Book ahead, especially during the December-to-May peak.

Manila to Palawan Flights

Every international traveller will board a Manila to Palawan flight. Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the main connection hub. You will likely land in Terminal 3 and need to switch to the domestic terminal for your onward flight. Allow a minimum of three hours between your international arrival and your domestic departure. Immigration, baggage claim, and the terminal transfer eat time fast.

Your airline choice from Manila dictates your arrival airport in Palawan. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offer the most options into the capital and Coron. For El Nido, your only direct option is AirSWIFT. The cheap fare to the capital is a false economy if your time is valuable. The van ride north costs you both money and a full day.

Booking Strategy and Practicalities

Your booking strategy is everything. First, decide your itinerary based on your interests. Then book your flights into and out of the airports that serve that itinerary directly. Never assume you can easily hop between Coron and El Nido. That ferry ride is an entire day lost.

Book your flights as far in advance as possible. AirSWIFT capacity is limited and sells out in peak months. Pay close attention to baggage allowances. The small aircraft on the El Nido route have strict weight limits, and excess baggage fees add up fast. Outside of the capital, assume you need cash for everything. Environmental fees, port charges, and van rides all require it. ATMs in El Nido and Coron are unreliable and frequently run dry.

Before You Leave Wi-Fi

Power outages are common in El Nido and Port Barton. Download offline maps and essential travel documents before you leave a reliable connection. Connectivity vanishes once you leave the main towns.