Tuesday, April 01, 2008 DMIA awarded 'Airport of the Year' By Reynaldo G. Navales
CLARK FREEPORT -- Over a year after receiving the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) "Low Cost Airport of the Year 2006 Award," the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) bagged the "Airport of the Year" award at the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Aerospace and Defense Awards Banquet held in Singapore on March 14.
Clark International Airport Corporation (Ciac) president and chief executive officer (CEO) Victor Jose Luciano received the Frost & Sullivan Award.
Luciano said the citation came at a time when the DMIA was experiencing an unprecedented growth in aviation-related projects and passenger volume.
During the 2006 Aviation Outlook Summit also held in Singapore, Capa recognized DMIA as "Low Cost Airport of the Year."
Singapore's Changi Airport also received the "Airport of the Year" award but for airports with above 15 million passengers annually.
Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India was chosen for the "Aeronautical Excellence Airport of the Year" award while Changi Airports International was chosen "Airport Investment Company of the Year."
Other key aviation players in Asia Pacific that received citations include: Japan Airlines for "Widest Route Coverage of the Year", Air Asia for "Airline Market Penetration Leadership of the Year" and Singapore Airlines for "Airline of the Year."
Frost and Sullivan is a leading research company in the world with over 26 global offices with more than 1,500 industry consultants, market research analysts, technology analysts, and economists.
The company was founded in 1961 and covers the following market such as Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Chemicals, Materials and Food, Energy and Power Systems, Environmental and Building Technologies, Healthcare, Industrial Automation and Electronics and Information and Communication Technologies.
"In recognition of its past year performance and expansion efforts, Frost & Sullivan awards the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Airport of the Year Award for the airport serving below 15 million annual passengers category to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA)," the citation stated.
"From humble beginnings of serving only charter flights, the recipient's recent growth has been nothing short of remarkable. It has positioned itself to become the future primary airport serving the surrounding major cities. The recipient's performance in 2007 has raised its profile amongst the industry and has created a strong platform for its expansion plans towards the coming years," the citation indicated.
"This year's recipients have displayed exemplary achievements in areas such as market leadership, marketing strategy, business development strategy, market penetration, customer service, growth strategy and product line strategy," the citation further noted.
"It is no coincidence that the aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region is experiencing robust growth and development. Through the years of planning and restructuring, foundations have been laid to nurture and revitalize all segments in the aviation market. Many countries in the Asia Pacific region are emerging as the world-class centers of excellence," said Subhranshu Sekhas Das, Practice Head for the Aerospace and Defense Practice, Frost & Sullivan, Asia Pacific.
The awards seek to showcase best practices in the industry, which are synonymous with Frost & Sullivan's in-depth analysis and coverage of aerospace and defense industry.
Meanwhile, two multi-billion pesos logistics projects comprising a logistics park and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities will also soon rise in the DMIA with the signing of agreements on April 4.
Luciano will sign memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (Siaec) and Kuwait Gulf and Link (KGL) of Kuwait during the inauguration of the expanded passenger terminal of the DMIA.
Luciano said KGL will establish the Global Gateway Logistics Park located at Industrial Estate Five while Siaec of Singapore will set up a US$100-million, 10-hectare MRO facility at DMIA.
KGL will occupy at least 1,250,000 square meters (125 hectares) at the civil aviation complex for the development of the world-class logistics park.
Siaec, a major provider of aircraft MRO services in the Asia Pacific Region, is part of the Singapore Airlines Group and provides maintenance services to Singapore's Changi Airport for the more than 60 international carriers including airframe and component overhaul on some of the most advanced widely used commercial aircraft in the world.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will witness the signing of agreements, which also coincide with the inauguration of the expanded DMIA Terminal on April 4.
