CLARK FREEPORT – Year 2018 is ending with the state-owned Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) proudly announcing historic 2.5 million passengers at Clark airport for the year as of last Monday.
The number is the highest in the airport’s 23-year history.
The operation and management of Clark airport, however, is expected to be privatized early next year, with CIAC being left to continue to have jurisdiction over areas outside the 800-hectare airport area.
“We tallied a total of 2,500,052 passengers as of 7:58 p.m. on Monday (December 17), the highest record, so far, in the history of CIAC, which means more revenues for the government and more flights to come,” CIAC president Jaime Melo said.
Melo said “this alltime high record was reached via Emirates Flight No. EK338 bound for Dubai. By December 31, CIAC is expected to tally in a total of 2,611,362.”
“What was once relegated as just a dream for Clark airport is now working in full throttle. Since President Rodrigo Duterte called for the greater utilization of Clark airport in 2016, CIAC was able to increase flights and passenger volume and profitability has also improved commensurately, a huge improvement from three to five years ago with more airlines signifying to mount flights,” he added.
The average daily passenger volume at the Clark is 8,000 and served by a total of 656 weekly flights, 202 of which are international flights while the remaining 454 are domestic flights, CIAC records indicated.
Melo said “these record-breaking figures are attributed to the Duterte administration’s full support, citing Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, whose agency oversees the airport’s operation, and CIAC’s parent company, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), headed by its president Vince Dizon.”
He reported that also this year, Clark tallied a total of 242,840 passengers from May 1 to 31 – the highest monthly total passengers recorded – while the biggest number of travelers served in just one day was last May 26 at 8,662 passengers.
“The dream has further come to reality now that a new terminal building will be operational by 2020 and able to accommodate an additional 8 million passengers per annum,” he added.
By the end of the year 2022, CIAC’s target is to have 4,457,046 passengers.
International destinations from Clark include Doha and Dubai in the Middle East, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Singapore while negotiations are ongoing for airlines to mount Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur flights, among others.
The airport is also connected to major domestic destinations including Cebu, Boracay, Bacolod, Davao and Palawan.
