CLARK FREEPORT -- “Ten million today and another ten million passengers in the next few years.”
This, as Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Alexander Cauguiran welcomed the ten millionth passenger to use the airport since it officially started accommodating passengers via commercial flights in 2001.
Cherry Castro, 32, of San Simon, Pampanga, who was traveling with her family, was the lucky ten millionth passenger. Castro arrived on board Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight 2370 from Caticlan.
Castro, using Clark airport for second time, said she was completely surprised and overwhelmed. She received a gift certificate for 20,000 Mabuhay Miles from the country’s flag carrier and gifts from CIAC that includes a plaque of recognition for this milestone.
Cauguiran and PAL officers Raphael Loui Romualdo, PAL Branch Manager, PAL Clark OIC-Station Manager Marlon Calasin and Marrian Maralli, PAL airport officer welcomed Castro.
The airport exec expressed optimism on the increase in passenger volume owing to this administration’s Build Build Build mantra, specifically on the construction of a new passenger terminal.
“Our target is another ten million passengers starting today in the next several months or few years from now, most likely we will be able to achieve it,” said Cauguiran.
“With the Build Build Build plan of this administration, mas mabilis ang transporation, mas maganda ang flights dito, mas darami ang mga eroplano, syempre yung mga galing sa ibang lugar bakit pupunta pa ng Manila kung meron ng destination dito,” he added.
Cauguiran disclosed that in 2013, the Clark International Airport has carried more than 1.3 million passengers, its highest milestone yet for a calendar year. However, the Clark airport exec said, “but we hope to surpass that this year, at least 1.5 million passengers”.
Cauguiran said of the 40 million passengers that were generated by the four terminals in Manila last year both international and domestic, around eight to ten million came from Northern and Central Luzon.
In June 2007, the Clark Airport counted its one millionth passenger via Asiana Airlines, while in November 2012 it received its five millionth passenger on board a Cebu Pacific flight. (Astrud Q. Aguinaldo)