Clark eyes becoming first PH ‘airport city’
Clark International Airport has its sights set on becoming the Philippines’ first airport city, with its operator planning to transform the gateway into an economic hub that would bring together aviation, logistics and commercial developments into a single ecosystem.
Under a 759.39-hectare master plan, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (Lpad) Corp. aims to develop the Clark AeroDistrict, which will host cargo facilities, aircraft maintenance operations, commercial establishments and mixed-use developments.
Developed by global infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, the master plan divides the concession into four development zones: aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities; general aviation and cargo operations; a planned cargo city; and commercial developments alongside future airport expansion.
“Clark International Airport has always been more than an airport. It is a gateway that connects people, businesses and opportunities,” Lipad president and CEO Noel Manankil said during a briefing on Tuesday.
“We want Clark to become a leading hub for aviation, logistics, business and investment,” he added.
Of the 759.39 hectares under Lipad’s concession, about 130 hectares remain available for lease to prospective locators. Manankil said these leaseable areas, mostly within Zone 4, are envisioned to host hotels, office developments and other commercial projects on what is currently the parking area behind the passenger terminal.
One of the company’s immediate priorities is a 30-hectare cargo city. According to Manankil, a detailed master plan for the area is expected to be completed by year-end, with development likely to take about five years.
This facility is envisioned as a centralized logistics hub integrating cargo handling, customs clearance and warehousing to speed up the movement of goods. Lipad said it was open to various development models, including long-term leases and joint ventures.
Even before the Clark AeroDistrict takes shape, Clark has already secured commitments from what Lipad described as the “big three” aviation and logistics players.
Global cargo carrier United Parcel Service Co. is scheduled to begin operations at its new Clark sorting facility in September. Meanwhile, Federal Express Corp. and aircraft MRO provider Lufthansa Technik Philippines are targeting to bring their expansion projects online by 2028.
In the first half, Clark International Airport handled 48,655 metric tons of cargo, up 10 percent from a year earlier. Nearly all, or 97 percent, of these shipments were international.
The airport city plans also come as interest builds around the Luzon Economic Corridor, particularly the planned Pax Silica artificial intelligence (AI) hub in nearby New Clark City.
Although Manankil said Lipad had yet to quantify how much Pax Silica could boost cargo demand, he noted that high-value products such as AI hardware, semiconductors and electric vehicle components are typically transported by air. This makes Clark International Airport’s proximity to New Clark City a key advantage.
“The ecosystem will have to be there,” Manankil said.
Lipad took over the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport in 2019. It is a consortium composed of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd.
As of the first half of 2026, Clark International Airport handled 1.64 million passengers, up 6 percent from a year earlier. Flight movements rose 27 percent to 14,987 during the same period.
Manankil said about half of that growth was driven by the transfer of all turboprop operations from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Clark in March.
