Thursday, February 21, 2008 HK Express set to launch Clark flights
CLARK FREEPORT -- The Hong Kong Express has announced its thrice-a-week flight at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), which will start on March 5.
The airline will conduct its open-chartered flights to DMIA for the next three months in a bid to attract Chinese tourists as well as investments into the freeport.
The flights, it was learned, will arrive every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Hong Kong Express will use Boeing 737-800, with a capacity of 164 passengers, for its Clark-Hong Kong route.
The aircraft leaves Hong Kong at 11:15 a.m., arrive at Clark at 1:15 p.m. and leave for Hong Kong at 1:45 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; and arrive from Hong Kong at 6:40 p.m. and leave Clark at 7:25 p.m. every Friday.
At the formal launching held at the Shanghai Palace Restaurant in Angeles City last Tuesday night, Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac) executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran said this (development) demonstrates the viability of DMIA as the country's premier international gateway and operations hub of regional carriers.
"The entry of Hong Kong Express at Clark validates the wisdom and vision behind such long-term plan for the future of our country's aviation," Cauguiran said.
Cauguiran, who was the guest of honor and speaker at the launch, also informed travel agents in Central Luzon that "President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved in principle the issuance of an executive order that will put in effect more liberalized air policies for DMIA."
The policies are expected to further hasten the smooth and stable entry of more commercial carriers."
Cauguiran has also lauded Hong Kong Express and Maxon Asia Telecom Corporation officials and local travel agents for initiating the flights between Hong Kong and Clark.
"We admire Maxon Asia for its courage to take on significant business risks in order to provide our people, especially our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who hail from Northern and Central Luzon, an alternative and more comfortable and economical way to travel back and forth to Hong Kong," he said.
"Ciac shall remain steadfast in its support and cooperation, in every means possible, to Maxon Asia to ensure the success of its venture at Clark," he added.
Hong Kong Express is the fourth air carrier of Hong Kong. Established in 2005, it flies to at least 56 destinations that include China, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and the rest of Asia.
At present, the DMIA passenger terminal is being expanded in a bid to modernize facilities due to the growing demand in the airline industry.
The new passenger terminal will increase its capacity to one to two million passengers annually and it is expected to be finished by March. The existing terminal can accommodate 500,000 passengers per year.
Construction of the Terminal 2 Project will start middle of this year to further increase capacity to seven to eight million passengers annually.
The project is expected to be completed by 2009.
At the same time, an in-flight catering service facility is currently being constructed at the airport complex. It will initially produce 4,000 meals per day once fully operational.
An initial US$1.5 million was infused for the facility to cater to the needs of air carriers operating at the airport.
The facility is expected to be finished by April.
Among the air carriers operating at DMIA are Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Asiana Airlines, China Southern Airlines, while domestic carriers are Cebu Pacific, Asian Spirit and South East Asian Airlines (Seair). (RGN)
