Clark gateway sees 42% volume surge with turboprops transfer
Clark International Airport estimates as much as 42-percent growth in passenger volume this year with the looming transfer of turboprop operations from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).
Noel Manankil, CEO of Clark airport operator Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (Lipad), said they had hiked their full-year projection from 3 million passengers to around 3.3 million to 3.4 million passengers given the anticipated increase in flight activities.
At present, the airport accommodates 237 flights per week. This is seen to increase to 269 flights per week by March 30 with the transfer of turboprops.
The Lipad official said they were ready to welcome the turboprops, noting their capacity to immediately absorb about 1.6 million passengers.
The Pampanga gateway has an initial capacity to handle 4 million passengers annually but it has yet to be fully utilized. Should more space be needed, Manankil said they could further scale up to 8 million passengers.
Turboprop operations are being phased out of Naia to decongest the airport and make more available slots to bigger jets as a way to increase passenger capacity.
According to the Manila Slot Coordination Committee—comprising the Department of Transportation and New Naia Infra Corp.—the airlines have until March next year to transfer their turboprops to secondary airports.
Cebu Pac starts relocation
Cebu Pacific will move its Manila-Masbate and Manila-Siargao flights to Clark airport by March 30. Affected passengers can rebook their flights for free, avail of full refund or convert their booking to a travel fund.
Manankil, meanwhile, said they were anticipating Philippine Airlines to transfer their turboprop operations by October.
The Clark airport saw its passenger volume grow by 20 percent to 2.4 million last year, 65 percent of which was driven by international travelers.
The number of flights facilitated by the airport grew by 29 percent to 19,221 last year.
Amid the momentum of air travel, the Clark International Airport Corp. previously said they were eyeing to build a second runway, which is estimated to cost P7 billion to P10 billion.
In addition, additional P2 billion is seen to be spent for the expansion of taxiways and aprons for new locators, including logistics companies.
