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Palawan · about 30 minutes in the air

Private flight from El Nido to Coron

El Nido Airport (Lio) (ENI) to Francisco B. Reyes Airport (Busuanga) (USU). Whole aircraft from ₱125,000 ($2,050), up to 3 passengers.

El Nido to Coron is the Palawan crossing everyone has heard of, usually as the open-water ferry that takes four to five hours and does not sail when the weather says no. CebGo, Cebu Pacific's turboprop subsidiary, flies the route on a limited schedule — check current timetables — which helps but still means building a trip around a fixed timetable rather than your own plans, and it does not run every day.

A private aircraft makes the same hop in about 30 minutes on your own schedule, direct between El Nido Airport at Lio and Francisco B. Reyes Airport on Busuanga, itself about 30 to 45 minutes by road from Coron town. Where the ferry can strand a schedule for a day when it is cancelled, rescheduling a 30-minute charter costs far less of a trip, and there is no coastguard clearance to wait on before you know whether today's crossing is even happening. Vans meet arriving flights on the Busuanga side, so the transfer into Coron town is straightforward.

The aircraft is a Cessna 182 flown by an El Nido or Puerto Princesa-based operator, priced whole rather than per seat, with both currencies shown before you commit. A booking is a request the operator confirms, usually within hours, and nothing is charged until then — useful on a route where the alternative is watching a coastguard clearance decide your day for you. For a group splitting the fare, the time saved often matters more than the price difference either way, and neither airport asks for the queues a ferry terminal does.

El Nido, Palawan to Coron (Busuanga), Palawan: your options compared

El Nido, Palawan to Coron (Busuanga), Palawan: options compared
Option Time Cost Notes
Private aircraft (Avian) About 30 min ₱125,000 Whole aircraft, up to 3 passengers; lands at the airport.
Open-water ferry4–5 hoursLowestDoes not sail in bad weather.
Scheduled airline——CebGo (Cebu Pacific) flies this route on a limited schedule; check current timetables.
Seaplane charterAbout 45 minutesQuote onlyHorizon Sun Charters lands on water; up to 6 passengers.

Flight time is a typical block time for the aircraft shown and is confirmed at booking; surface times are typical and vary with weather and season.

Frequently asked questions

Is the price per person or per aircraft?
Per aircraft. The price shown covers the whole aircraft from El Nido to Coron for up to the passenger limit on the price card, so splitting it between travellers is where charter starts to make sense.
How much luggage can we bring?
Each price card shows the aircraft's total luggage allowance in kilograms. Light aircraft take soft bags far more easily than hard cases; if you are travelling with dive gear, a surfboard or camera cases, mention it when you book and the operator will confirm it fits.
How far in advance do we need to book?
A booking on Avian is a request: the operator confirms availability, usually within hours, and you then receive a secure payment link by email. Nothing is charged until the operator has confirmed. Same-day flights are sometimes possible; a few days' notice is safer in peak season.
What happens at the airport?
Charter departures use the small general-aviation side of the airport. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure, meet the crew, and walk to the aircraft. There are no boarding groups and no long security queues.
What if the weather turns?
Light aircraft fly in visual conditions, so heavy weather can move a departure. If the operator needs to change your time they will propose a new one and you accept or decline it from your booking link; a flight that cannot operate is not charged.
Can children and infants fly?
Yes. Every person on board, including an infant on a lap, counts towards the aircraft's passenger limit, so choose your passenger count accordingly when you search.
How far is the airport from Coron town?
Francisco B. Reyes Airport is on Busuanga Island, about 30 to 45 minutes by road from Coron town; vans meet every arrival.
Where does the flight land in El Nido?
At El Nido Airport in Lio, a few kilometres north of El Nido town. Lio resorts are minutes away; town and Corong-Corong are a short tricycle or van transfer.