Clark Airport seeks to increase traffic with expansion

The Philippine government has released an initial PHP2.8 billion to construct the Clark International Airport, which will operate flights to and from Macau five times a week via Cebu Pacific.

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), which operates the gateway, said that the construction would double the airport’s capacity to eight million passengers a year.

From January 30, flag carrier Philippine Airlines will operate more flights to Cebu, Davao and Puerto Princesa out of Clark Airport.

Just last month, the airline had directed traffic to Clark by commencing flights to Caticlan (Boracay Airport) and Incheon, South Korea. Cebu Pacific increased frequencies from Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore.

The construction of the second terminal was to increase runway activity at the airport’s underutilized air gateway located to the northwest of Manila.

CIAC previously said that the new terminal would cost some PHP7.2 billion and would mainly serve low-cost carriers.

The terminal is scheduled for construction within the next three years.

Currently, Clark Airport has a capacity of four million passengers a year.

Clark Airport also serves other carriers such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, Cathay Dragon, Asiana Airlines and Jin Air.

Meanwhile, authorities say that they are following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to develop this premier airport to the north, stating that the project would decongest Metro Manila.