CLARK FREEPORT -- Clark International Airport is eyeing two million passengers for 2018, an official said.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) Acting President Alex Cauguiran said that more than 215,000 passengers in the month of March alone were recorded this year.

He added that the over 8,000 travelers in Clark on April 2 broke previous records.

A total of 215,040 passengers from March 1 to 31 were recorded and the highest number of travelers served in just a day was last April 2 at 8,322 individuals, according to Cauguiran.

“These numbers are the highest, so far, in the history of CIAC since 1995,” Cauguiran said.

The average daily passenger volume at the Clark airport is 7,000 in total of 481 weekly flights.

“From January 1 to March 31 this year alone, there were a total of 600,811 passengers that passed through Clark airport. At this rate and with the full support of the Duterte administration, we will be able to break the 2017 record of 1.5 million passengers and will probably reach the two-million mark this year,” the CIAC chief added.

Airlines operating flights include Asiana Airlines, Cathay Dragon, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Jetstar Asia, Jinair, Philippines AirAsia, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Scoot, while chartered flights are operated by AirSwift and Alphaland Aviation.

“There is definitely a surge at Clark airport in terms of the number of flights, destinations and passenger volume, along with the improvements of its facilities, all largely possible under the leadership of President Duterte,” Caugurian said.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade lauded the management and staff of CIAC for ensuring the convenience and safety of the commuting public particularly during the recent observance of Holy Week.

Tugade thanked the CIAC personnel who unselfishly sacrificed their off days to give and assure the riding public the safety, security and comfort in their Holy Week journeys and travels.

At the same time, five CIAC personnel were commended for “honesty and exemplary service in the performance of their duties” which, Cauguiran pointed out, “gave a breath of fresh air in the light of social media post that have put Clark airport in a bad light the past several months.”

CIAC security officers Christopher Ferry and Larry Magcalas were cited for promptly returning on March 10 the belongings left behind by a passenger and politely turning down a reward.

In February, outsourced personnel Eduardo Labarda returned a passenger’s lost mobile phone and Eranie Decena surrendered a Rolex watch while last December, parking attendant John Pamintuan assisted a troubled balikbayan beyond his duty at the CIAC Park and Fly facility.