The development of the Clark International Airport is in full swing after the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) gave the green light to start the expansion program for the first phase of the New Passenger Terminal that will have the capacity of 8 million per annum.
The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) is preparing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the bidding of the consultancy services for Detailed Engineering Design that will take place this second quarter of 2017. Clark airport will now have a World Class Passenger Terminal by 2019.
The existing Passenger Terminal has the capacity of 4.2 million per annum which is not enough to accommodate the influx of flights.
President Rodrigo Duterte indeed made sure that Clark will play a vital role especially in attracting more tourists to visit the Philippines and one of his directives is to develop Clark airport that will serve as a catalyst for the development of the tourism industry in the country.
Clark airport is now bustling with 138 international flights per week and 94 Domestic flights weekly since Duterte took power in July 2016. The nation’s flag carrier Philippines Air Lines (PAL) made the first move to bring more flights at Clark airport since December 2016. PAL has flights to Caticlan, Davao, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga and Incheon in South Korea.
It will also add more domestic flights to Bacolod, Tagbilaran and Cagayan De Oro by June of this year. Cebu Pacific Air also followed adding flights to Caticlan, Puerto Princesa and Busuanga. Air Asia Philippines also has Kalibo and Davao flights and soon to Taiwan.
Wakay Air recently launched the Clark-Bagabag (Nueva Vizcaya) flights that will further promote the tourist destinations in the Northern Philippines. Air Swift also has Clark-Balisin flights and El Nido in Palawan.
The CIAC is also undertaking a Road Show that aims to promote the flights and services of Clark Airport. CIAC together with other partner agencies as well as airlines went to Baguio, Dagupan, Cabanatuan, Balanga to raise awareness about the existing flights at Clark Airport. CIAC is set to stage its 5th leg of road show on May 31 to be held at the Mansion Garden Hotel at Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales province.
The CIAC management is currently busy preparing various infrastructure developments of the entire 2,367 hectare Clark Civil Aviation Complex in time for the ASEAN Summit in November of this year.