By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter
LUZON International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), the operator of Clark International Airport, is planning a 759-hectare aviation, logistics, and business hub, with a master plan due by yearend because it seeks to rework the airport right into a broader economic gateway.
LIPAD has tapped infrastructure consulting firm AECOM to develop the master plan for the Clark AeroDistrict, which is able to expand the airport beyond passenger operations by integrating aviation, logistics, business, and investment activities throughout the Clark Freeport Zone.
“Clark International Airport has at all times been greater than an airport. It’s a gateway that connects people, businesses, and opportunities. We wish Clark to develop into a number one hub for aviation, logistics, business, and investment, while helping drive economic growth for the country,” LIPAD President and Chief Executive Officer Noel F. Manankil told reporters on Tuesday.
The master plan is anticipated to be accomplished by the tip of the yr, while development of the Clark AeroDistrict is targeted to be accomplished inside five years, Mr. Manankil said.
The project can be built on government-owned land throughout the Clark Freeport Zone, which LIPAD said would eliminate right-of-way issues.
“By way of development, perhaps five years. I feel the five-year period is particularly reasonable… So, we are going to finish the master plan for the cargo logistics inside this yr and we’re in talks with potential partners,” Mr. Manankil said.
The master plan can be implemented in 4 phases covering a maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facility, general aviation and freight services, a cargo facility, and a passenger terminal facility.
A key component of the event is the 130-hectare Cargo City, which is meant to accommodate existing and emerging logistics players.
“The event offers scalable, investment-ready infrastructure that may strengthen supply chains and improve the movement of products across domestic and international markets,” LIPAD said.
The corporate said cargo operations have continued to expand. Cargo flights rose 31% yr on yr to 752 in June, driven by 694 international cargo flights and 52 domestic cargo flights.
For the primary six months of the yr, cargo flights increased 27% to three,947 from the comparable period a yr earlier.
Cargo throughput rose 10% yr on yr to 48,655 metric tons, with international cargo accounting for 47,134 metric tons, or 97% of the overall volume throughout the period.
Mr. Manankil said LIPAD is exploring a public-private partnership or three way partnership structure for the project.
Meanwhile, LIPAD lowered its passenger traffic goal for the yr to three.1 million from 3.3 million after the conflict involving the USA, Israel, and Iran pushed up jet fuel prices, prompting airlines to cut back flight frequencies.
Passenger traffic at Clark International Airport reached 1.64 million in the primary half, driven by international travel.
International passenger traffic declined 5% yr on yr to 879,990, while domestic passenger traffic rose 24% to 758,328 following the transfer of turboprop operations to Clark, Mr. Manankil said.
Despite the revised forecast, Mr. Manankil said LIPAD expects passenger traffic in 2026 to exceed this yr’s level.
“We’re doing strategic planning. As a consequence of the disruption, we’re waiting for the finalization of filing for winter flights,” he said, adding that the outlook also is determined by the expected resumption of several air services to China.
LIPAD is a consortium composed of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Services, Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., a completely owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International. The consortium took over the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport in 2019.