Luciano said the CAB, which is under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), has the power to impose airline routes at secondary airports.
“Only political will is needed to do this,” he said, amid criticisms from Central Luzon leaders on the government’s alleged failure to fully transform Clark into the country’s international gateway.
He said he will tackle initially with Emirates the proposal for the triangular flight system.
“Those flying on from Dubai can land either in Cebu or Clark but the flights cannot pick up domestic passengers in Cebu and fly them to Clark because that would be forbidden as cabotage,” he said.
Luciano said that once such flights are firmed up and implemented by Emirates, Etihad could follow.
“We have a bit of problem with Etihad, however, because of what happened at Clark last October. Etihad has filed a complaint before the CAB and we are set to hear the case,” he said.
Luciano was referring to the rerouting of Etihad Flight EY424 to Clark last October, with 399 passengers on board, arising from congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The passengers were not allowed to deplane and stayed in the aircraft for over 10 hours. They were allowed to take buses to Manila only the following day.
But he stressed that the triangular flight scheme would also be proposed to Etihad which has flights to Abu Dhabi.
Chicken or egg
Luciano, former president-CEO of Clark International AirportCorp. (CIAC), noted that both Emirates and Etihadair lines still doubt the financial viability of operating at Clark.
“It’s like the cycle of the chicken and the egg. Not enough passengers are at Clark because there aren’t enough airlines, and there is shortage of airlines because there aren’t enough passengers,” he said.
He stressed, however, that Clark airport has enough catchment area for passengers in the four regions north of
Metro Manila.
Current CIAC President- CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco earlier said most folk in the northern regions have yet to be made aware of the existence of international flights at Clark, although the number of international destinations is yet limited.
“Of course, those from Central Luzon who are flying in from the Middle East would prefer to land directly at Clark instead of stopping over in Cebu, but I suppose this could be remedied by offering them reduced fares,” Luciano said.
Luciano also said that through political will, the government could simply impose on airlines the use of secondary airports, instead of concentrating their operations only at NAIA. “This was done in South Korea when the government told airlines that only the Incheon airport which was then newly opened, would be used for international flights. On our part, such a move would require political will,” he said.
