CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano (right) and Airphil Express President and CEO Peter Ong (left) sign a contract at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel Friday for the local budget airline’s expansion at the Clark airport.
Behind them is Airphil Express Senior Legal Adviser Atty. Jonathan Lim. Photo Courtesy of CIAC Public Affairs
MANDALUYONG CITY – Lucio Tan-owned AirPhil Express, formerly known as Air Philippines, is expected to operate and fly out of Clark this October via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
“This is a landmark day for Clark International Airport Corp., a special day, a special moment,” said CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano during the contract-signing with executives of AirPhil Express at the Edsa Shangrila hotel here on Friday.
Luciano said that some 25 million people from northern and Central Luzon will benefit from the agreement.
He lauded the efforts of AirPhil Express saying that its new domestic and international routes, mostly Southeast Asian, augur well for Clark.
Citing the increasing congestion at NAIA, Luciano said the budget airlines’ decision to fly at the DMIA will complement Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s operation.
“Clark is not only for northern and Central Luzon but for the whole country. We’d like to see Clark connected with the whole world,” he said.
Luciano noted that DMIA’s two parallel runways could accommodate A-380 aircraft, known to be the largest passenger planes in the world.
The entry of AirPhil Express has also diffused perceptions that Tan is cold to proposals to transform DMIA as the country’s premiere gateway.
Central Luzon leaders have perceived and at times openly criticized Tan as a stumbling block to the entry of foreign LCC’s into the DMIA amid the demand of his company for other foreign carriers to work out “reciprocity” of rights in their countries of origin.
AirPhil Express Senior Legal Counsel Jonathan Andrew Lim said he was not aware of such perception of Tan among Central Luzon folk. However, he noted that AirPhil’s entry into Clark manifested Tan’s support to develop DMIA.
“The reciprocity issue was a demand for fair play with foreign carriers,” he said.
Alfredo Herrera, AirPhil Express senior vice president for Marketing and Sales, said that their pending operation at the DMIA was an indication that Tan has “arrived” at Clark.
EXPANSION
Herrera said that at least two airlines will fly at Clark this year and another four next year.
He also said that their continuing expansion outside Metro Manila “is good for consumers because of the competition.”
“This is all in line with our expansion process and consistent with our growth strategy to solidify our position as a key player in the local budget airline market,” Herrera said.
However, he declined to reveal the routes that AirPhil Express would have once it starts operations at the DMIA, merely saying this would be a “surprise.”
Herrera also said that they are also offering 10-percent discount on airfare for students.
Airphil Express has seven Airbus A320s, three Q300s and five Q400. It flies to 25 domestic and two international destinations. It is the low cost carrier (LCC) sister company of Philippine Airlines which is owned by the Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies.
Clark Development Corp. President Felipe Antonio Remollo also attended the event.
By Joey Aguilar and Ding Cervantes
