Clark terminal fees lowered

By Mar T. Supnad

Owing to the increasing volume of passengers come Christmas season, Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has lowered its airport terminal fee.

CIAC President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Jose Luciano announced that “such reduction, which is now lower to Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s P500 fee is meant to attract more abroad-bound air travels and passengers to CIA.

Nevertheless, domestic terminal fee remains at P150.”

Luciano said during first six months of year 2012, CIAC recorded a 54 percent growth in passenger volume because of the increased flights of the budget carriers and full service airlines.

CIA is the only airport in the country that has six budget carriers namely AirPhil Express, Air Asia Philippines, Air Asia Malaysia, Cebu Pacific, Jin Air and Seair that operates 24 hours a day.

The Clark airport is one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with two runways in parallel configuration that can be easily extended to four kilometers to accommodate new generation wide-bodied aircrafts.

The London-based Financial Times business group recently ranked CIAC third best airport in the world.

Luciano, in a statement, said “the government wanted to develop a long-term program [for CIA] like the development of a new passenger terminal to house a massive number of passengers as well as aircrafts for budget carriers and legacy carriers.”

With this undertaking, the Aquino administration is keen on transforming CIA as the main airport of the country, Luciano said.

During the first six months of year 2012, CIAC has recorded a 54 percent growth in passenger volume because of the increased flights of the budget carriers, and full service airlines.

The Clark airport is one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with two runways in parallel configuration that can easily be extended to four kilometers to accommodate new generation wide-bodied aircrafts.

The primary runway has a length of 3,200 meters and a width of 61 meters and is fully equipped with all navigational aids and lighting facilities and has a Category One rating for precision approach while the secondary runway has a length of 3,200 meters and a width of 45 meters.

CIA is well equipped with a Terminal Radar Approach Control, Navigational Aids, Meteorological Equipment, Airfield Ground Lighting System and Crash, Fire and Rescue facilities.

In a related development, Financial Times Business Group also ranked the Clark Freeport Zone, the seat of the CIA, as the 8th best Freeport zone in the world, making Clark joining the roster of elite list of Freeport zones worldwide.