CLARK FREEPORT – Giant Christmas tree and colourful decorations for yuletide season greets travellers including returning Overseas Filipino Workers and Balikbayans as airport authorities are expecting an influx of passengers in both overseas and domestic flights for the holiday rush.
“During this time of year, mostly OFWs and their families contribute to the increase in passenger volume at Clark. The expected influx of passengers (is also due) to the additional domestic destinations linking CRK to other destinations in the Visayas region,” said Clark International Airport Corporation President & CEO Alexander Cauguiran in a statement.
Airport officials placed a giant Christmas tree and a makeshift manger with the Holy Family or “Belen” at the passenger terminal building as an added attraction. The ceremonial lighting would be on Dec 13.
Security measures had been beefed-up to ensure the safety of arriving and departing travellers in this holiday season.
Cauguiran said Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel from the PNP Aviation Security Unit and K-9 units complement CIAC’s security staff around the vicinity of the Passenger Terminal Building. The airport operations team has also installed more CCTVs, intensified police patrols and inspection of vehicles, cargo and baggage.
The CIAC chief added Clark’s readiness during the Christmas holidays is in accordance with the Balik-Pasko 2017 Program of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for the 35 airports nationwide to ensure passengers’ safety.
The CIAC chief added Clark’s readiness during the Christmas holidays is in accordance with the Balik-Pasko 2017 Program of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for the 35 airports nationwide to ensure passengers’ safety.
Cauguiran also announced that Philippine Airlines and its subsidiary PALEx have started their flights from Clark to Davao, Masbate, Calbayog and Catarman last December 1.
On December 15, PAL will commence servicing its CRK-Bacolod thrice weekly flights and daily flights to Tagbilaran (Bohol). The flag carrier will also start its Cagayan De Oro flights on December 16, while the CRK-Virac (Catanduanes) route will begin on December 18.
Air Asia Philippines, on the other hand, will start servicing its Clark-Caticlan route on December 15, and its Puerto Princesa, Iloilo and Tacloban flights on January 26.
Clark airport is expected to get busier at the start of next year as more destinations are expected to be introduced by airlines starting January.
According to Cauguiran, other negotiations for direct flights from Clark to the US, Japan, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan and Thailand are on progress.
CRK serves a growing network of 14 domestic and eight international destinations and is connected to various global destinations via the networks of Emirates, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Asiana, Jetstar, Jin Air and China Eastern.