Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President-CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco Jr. said Cebu Pacific has already made arrangements for the accommodation here of its four domestic flights during the summit. The flights, normally regularly scheduled at NAIA, are bound for Kalibo in Aklan, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Dumaguete in Negros Oriental and Tagbilaran in Bohol.
He said more cancelled flights of various airlines are expected to be diverted to Clark airport, although final arrangements were still being awaited yesterday.
“We assured Cebu Pacific management and their passengers that we will extend all necessary assistance to support the rerouted flights involving A319 and A320 aircraft,” Tanjuatco said.
The Philippine Airlines earlier announced that 115 domestic and 96 international flights will not be operating on Nov. 15 to 20, while Cebu Pacific Air announced the cancellation of at least 260 flights over the same period, 26 of them to and from international destinations.
This, after the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) issued an advisory about “periodic temporary runway closures” at the NAIA during the arrival and departure of heads of state.
Tanjuatso said “We are even willing to extend incentives on airport fees and charges not only to CEB but to all other airlines who wish to transfer operations at Clark to help minimize the disruption in the travel plans of our countrymen.”
“Owing to the complex nature of operating an airline, it is to the advantage of Cebu Pacific that they already have at Clark their own ground service crews, food catering and booking and check-in systems,” Tanjuatco explained.
Cebu Pacific has regular flights at Clark to Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore and, as well as Cebu. Other airlines with regular flights here include are Qatar Airways (Doha), Cathay Pacific-Dragonair (Hong Kong), Asiana (Incheon), Jin Air (Incheon and Busan), Tiger Air (Singapore), and AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur).
Tanjuatco has ordered a top-to-bottom review of airport operations to “precisely prepare ourselves for possible diversion of flights from Manila to Clark during the busy week of APEC summit.”
“We want to make a positive impression especially among first-time travellers, that Clark is a convenient and safe option for local and international passengers,” Tanjuatco stressed.
Clark airport officials said they have instituted measures that will ensure, among others, additional ramp bus services
and extra space in the terminal building as holding areas for diverted passengers.
