CLARK FREEPORT – “International flights emanate from this wonderful airport.”
Thus said Transportation Sec. Leandro Mendoza as he led the unveiling of a new aircraft of the Spirit of Manila (SOM) Airlines on Friday at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here. It’s an MD-83 aircraft with a 147-seating capacity.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said that more aircraft which include an MD-83, Boeing 747-300 and 747-400 will be arriving sometime in September and November to complete the SOM fleet in time for their operations this December. The MD-83 aircraft arrived at the DMIA last August 1.
The air carrier is expected to fly from Clark to Taiwan and Macau and in the Middle East via Qatar, Dubai, Bahrain, and Kuwait to serve the bulk of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
“This will benefit our OFWs working in the Middle East most of whom are from the Central and Northern Luzon and attract more tourists to visit our country using DMIA,” Luciano added.
Mendoza seconded Luciano saying “60 percent of our OFWs are from the North Philippines, so Clark is a strategic place for Spirit of Manila Airlines and I expect the airline will have a cheaper air fare that will compete with other air carriers.”
“They (Spirit of Manila) have chosen the best airport in the country for their operations in Clark,” he said.
He said that this is one of the government’s effort in bringing more flights and new players at DMIA as envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Mendoza and Luciano led other officials that include SOM Chairman Basilio Reyes, President and CEO Jimmy Matibag and Vice President Rene Ocampo, and their foreign partner Vice Chairman Hamad Altani
“Spirit of Manila Airlines is the first large local carrier that will base their operations in Clark, and from here they will start flying out of DMIA very soon,” he said.
According to Luciano the MD-83 aircraft would be used for the Clark-Taiwan flights. “There are no flights between Taiwan and Clark, and this is the right time that we will now have them. President Fidel Ramos himself has been advocating for Clark-Taiwan flights to bring in more tourists and investors.”
Luciano said the airline will also fly domestic operations in the future aside from the international operations at DMIA.
Thus said Transportation Sec. Leandro Mendoza as he led the unveiling of a new aircraft of the Spirit of Manila (SOM) Airlines on Friday at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here. It’s an MD-83 aircraft with a 147-seating capacity.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said that more aircraft which include an MD-83, Boeing 747-300 and 747-400 will be arriving sometime in September and November to complete the SOM fleet in time for their operations this December. The MD-83 aircraft arrived at the DMIA last August 1.
The air carrier is expected to fly from Clark to Taiwan and Macau and in the Middle East via Qatar, Dubai, Bahrain, and Kuwait to serve the bulk of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
“This will benefit our OFWs working in the Middle East most of whom are from the Central and Northern Luzon and attract more tourists to visit our country using DMIA,” Luciano added.
Mendoza seconded Luciano saying “60 percent of our OFWs are from the North Philippines, so Clark is a strategic place for Spirit of Manila Airlines and I expect the airline will have a cheaper air fare that will compete with other air carriers.”
“They (Spirit of Manila) have chosen the best airport in the country for their operations in Clark,” he said.
He said that this is one of the government’s effort in bringing more flights and new players at DMIA as envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Mendoza and Luciano led other officials that include SOM Chairman Basilio Reyes, President and CEO Jimmy Matibag and Vice President Rene Ocampo, and their foreign partner Vice Chairman Hamad Altani
“Spirit of Manila Airlines is the first large local carrier that will base their operations in Clark, and from here they will start flying out of DMIA very soon,” he said.
According to Luciano the MD-83 aircraft would be used for the Clark-Taiwan flights. “There are no flights between Taiwan and Clark, and this is the right time that we will now have them. President Fidel Ramos himself has been advocating for Clark-Taiwan flights to bring in more tourists and investors.”
Luciano said the airline will also fly domestic operations in the future aside from the international operations at DMIA.
