CLARK CAN. CebPac chief strategy officer Alexander Lao hands token aircraft to LIPAD Corp. CEO Bi Yong Chungunco at the launch of Cebu Pacific flights from Clark to Guangzhou and Puerto Princesa. Photo by Bong Lacson
LEADING Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) will close 2019 as the leading carrier at the Clark International Airport, with 28% capacity share. This fol lowing the launch of direct commercial service from Clark to Guangzhou, China last November 11; and to Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Sunday (November 17).
“Cebu Pacific has taken a measured pace of expansion in Clark, but we have always believed in the potential of Clark as the aviation hub for residents of North and Central Luzon. Over the past 12 months, our capacity growth in Clark hit over 90%. With the growth in passenger traffic in Clark, we are bullish that the new routes we launched over the past few months will continue to perform strongly,” said Alexander Lao, Chief Strategy Officer of Cebu Pacific.
Passenger traffic has been growing steadily at the Clark airport, as it aims to fly four million passengers by the end of 2019. The Clark International Airport is within proximity to vital infrastructure expected to be operational by 2022, such as the Manila-Clark passenger railway that will connect Manila to Clark, and a cargo railway connecting Subic to Clark.
Cebu Pacific has been continuously operating flights in and out of the Clark International Airport since 2006, with the latter serving as its hub for North and Central Luzon. From Clark, CEB operates 190 flights weekly to Bacolod, Bohol, Caticlan (Boracay), Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Narita (Tokyo) and Singapore.
“As the economy continues to grow and air travel expands in Clark, residents from Pampanga, Tarlac, Baguio and even La Union won’t need to make the land trip to Manila just to catch a flight. Rather, we look forward to spurring domestic tourism—giving everyJuan a choice to fly either Clark or Manila, depending on their schedule.”
Cebu Pacific aims to fly 200 million passengers by 2020; and 300 million by 2022. As of end-September 2019, CEB has flown over 16.7 million passengers on 121 routes and more than 2,681 flights weekly.
