Wazzup Pilipinas!
Playing a significant role in the country’s long-term airport strategy, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) are pouring investments into the Clark aerotropolis’ development, to prepare it as an international hub alongside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Sangley airport for decades to come.
“We see Clark International Airport (CRK) as a premier gateway alongside NAIA and Sangley, especially in view of its rapid growth over the past few years, as well as government’s development plans for the entire economic zone and the rest of the region. This is the direction we are taking for presentation to the President, for his consideration,” remarked DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.
“The airport’s passenger terminal building (PTB) was expanded last May, providing new and modernized facilities to better serve the public and boosting annual passenger capacity to around 4 million from the previous 2.5 million,” he said.
The P 417-Million improvement project increased the PTB’s size from 11,439 square meters to 19,799 square meters, and increased its check-in counters from 13 to 34. In order to accommodate more passengers and ease queuing, 12 departure counters and 5 arrival counters have also been added. The modernized portion of the terminal itself has 8 entry points and 3 customs stations. This allows CRK to expand its airport operations by accommodating more international flights from Qatar Airways and Emirates.
CRK’s expanded operations began last May, upon the completion of its Passenger Terminal Expansion Project (Phase II).
French Firm Presents Concept Design for New LCC Terminal
For the airport’s longer-term development, the DOTC and CIAC earlier this year commissioned Aeroports de Paris (ADP) – which owns and operates the French capital’s airports – to prepare a master plan for the aerotropolis and a feasibility study for the construction of a new P 7.2-Billion low-cost carrier (LCC) terminal to enhance the airport’s increasing popularity as a regional hub.
“ADP presented its concept design for a new LCC terminal to DOTC and CIAC officials last month, and CIAC is now scheduled to present this proposal to the National Economic Development Authority–Investment Coordination Committee in August. The proposed new budget terminal will boost CRK’s capacity further to between 8 and 16 Million passengers per year. We are hoping for a smooth process in order for the project to be completed within 2016,” Abaya quipped.
“These exciting new developments signal even greater economic progress for Clark and the entire region in the coming years. We at the DOTC are encouraging its growth by equipping the airport with modern facilities to meet passenger demands today and in the future, and we hope that CRK will indeed become the low-cost carrier hub of choice for the region,” the transport chief remarked.
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