ANGELES CITY – “They all want to but we are sorry we are limited because of restrictions where passengers have to go through quarantine. And they can only use quarantine facilities here in the region.”
Thus, disclosed Bi Yong Chungunco, chief executive officer of the Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. of talks with airlines to restore flights at the Clark International Airport. LIPAD handles the operation and management of the CRK new terminal.
In a recent video conference with media, Chungunco said that while the CRK new terminal is primed to start operations for the Christmas season, its full use could be delayed as border restrictions and quarantine protocols currently in effect may constrain authorities from approving more flights.
“It’s not only us having this wish list (of having more flights) but also the airlines who want to come,” Chungunco said, citing the number of airlines that operated at the CRK in pre-pandemic times.
At time the airport was under the Clark International Airport Corp., domestic and international flights per week peaked to 670. In the first half of 2019, two million passenger traffic was recorded at CRK.
Chungunco said that one of the pioneering airlines at the CRK, South Korea’s Asiana Airlines, will restart its Clark flights in time for the holiday season. Asiana provides interconnections at Incheon airport onward to the United States.
“Hopefully, once we had achieved herd immunity and most of our borders restrictions are lifted. For instance, allowing vaccinated passengers to go on just 1-2 days of quarantine, then we can accept more flights,” she said. “Today, sorry we are turning down flights.” With media reports
