Friday, January 11, 2008 Passenger volume at Clark airport increases
CLARK FREEPORT -- The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) has recorded an increase in passenger volume surpassing 2006 figures by close to 45,000 passenger arrivals.
Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac) president Victor Jose Luciano said this indication signals a bright future in the development of the civil aviation complex.
Luciano is also optimistic that the state-run firm will achieve its objective in developing the 2,500-hectare aviation civil aviation complex as the site of an international airport and a mega-logistics and services hub in the Asia Pacific region.
Ciac records showed that there was a significant increase in passenger arrivals in both international and domestic flights with 533,619 arrivals in 2007 surpassing the 488,867 2006 figures.
The figures also revealed that an increase in passenger volume by at least 44,863 last year in the airport geared as the next premier gateway by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Luciano attributed the increase in passenger volumes to the ongoing operations of various air carriers especially those Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) which boosted the airline industry in Central Luzon.
Among those operating at DMIA for international flights are Asiana Air Line, Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, Deer Air and Shanghai Airlines.
Domestic flights, on the other hand, are South East Asian Airlines (Seair), Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit.
United Parcel Service (UPS) is servicing its Infra Asia Hub inside DMIA as its transshipment point in Asia.
Terminal fee collection at DMIA also increased by 39 percent in 2007 with revenues amounting to P112, 615,150 million as compared to the P81,097,750 million in 2006.
He said 2008 is lined-up with several development projects for the civil aviation complex. These include the recent US$2 million Technical Grant provided by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica), which will undertake a feasibility study for the preparation of a master development plan in the area.
The plan includes the setting up of the Phase 1 of the DMIA Master Development, Logistic Facilities, Runway Extension, Ground Transport Center and the International Gateway Terminal.
Luciano said the airport's existing terminal is being expanded and would be completed by March.
Once completed, it would accommodate one to two million passengers annually. The Macapagal airport accommodates 500,000 passengers per year with its existing terminal.
Luciano also said the country's flag carrier Philippine Air Lines plans to operate at DMIA this year. This is expected to beef up international and domestic flight in the area.
He added that a Singaporean firm will set up a Maintenance and Repair Overhaul (MRO) facilities in the airport.
Last year, Ciac officials inaugurated a US$3 million In-flight Catering Services at the airport which would produce around 4,000 meals per day.
The catering firm will cater the needs of air carriers operating at DMIA. The firm Gate Gourmet Philippines will provide meals for air carriers.
All of the latest developments going-on at the airport will signal a new hope not only for Ciac and Clark but for the entire nation, according to Luciano. (RGN)
