Riding on the momentum created by President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent trip to China, Chinese tour operators are now mapping out plans to charter flights from the Clark International Airport (CRK) to Guangzhou, China in a bid to lure more Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Alexander Cauguiran on Wednesday (Oct. 25) met with officials of the Fontana Leisure Park and Chinese tour operator Dynasty Holiday, during which plans for twice-a week chartered flights to and from Guangzhou via Clark airport before the end of the year were discussed.
Cauguiran said “the plan to mount chartered flights at Clark airport will open up the market between China and the Philippines as this will attract more Chinese tourists to come to the country.”
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) OIC President and CEO Alexander Cauguiran (left, gesturing) discussing with Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks General Manager Dennis Pak (2nd from left) and officers of Chinese tour operator Dynasty Holiday led by General Manager Jacky Zhang (back to camera) of the Regional Office in China plans for the operation of twice-a-week chartered flights to and from Guangzhou, China via the Clark International Airport (CRK) to attract more Chinese tourists to the Philippines. Also present during the meeting were CIAC Vice-President Dan Bautista of the Airport Operations and Management Group (2nd from right) and Operations Manager Hilarion Ritche Nacpil (extreme right). Not in photo but also present was CIAC Marketing Manager Jay Punzalan. Dynasty Holiday has partnered with Fontana for the chartered flights. (Photo courtesy of CIAC-Corporate Communications Office)
Jacky Zhang General Manager Regional Office-China of the Dynasty Holiday said that they will tap the services of Sichuan Airlines for the chartered flights from the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong province using Airbus A-320 aircrafts.
“We are planning to start as soon as possible after the requirements are met from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and we plan to start before the end of this year,” Zhang announced.
He said that the “Chinese market is very ripe for the Philippines, and the Philippines is very near China.”
Cauguiran, on the other hand, added that the goodwill earned from the President’s successful visit to China will be a big boost to Clark.
Transportation Secretary and CIAC Chairman Arthur Tugade recently announced more flights via Clark as a result of the President’s China trip.
“With the impressive menu of big ticket projects with China committed during the trip and the improved PHL-China relations, we should expect a steady traffic of Chinese businessmen and tourists traveling to the country from hereon,” Cauguiran said.
Sichuan Airlines is a regional airline based in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, Sichuan in China. It is operating mainly domestic flights out of Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and Chongquing Jiangbei International Airport.
The airline launched its first long-haul overseas route in 2012 with flights from its Chengdu hub to Vancouver, Canada. And followed to Melbourne Australia in February 2013 three weekly services. Last October 17, 2016, Sichuan launched twice a week service from Chengdu via Hangzhou to Los Angeles in the United States.