PAL to launch more domestic, int’l flights in Clark by January

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) agreed to mount more flights to 4 local cities and one international destination from Clark International Airport in Pampanga by January 2017.

This is part of a memorandum of agreement signed between Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and PAL last Thursday, December 15, in a bid to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

PAL said it will be adding more flights in Clark for its Cebu, Davao, Busuanga, and Cagayan de Oro routes starting January 2017.

PAL will also launch daily international flights to Incheon, South Korea from Clark International Airport by January 2017, for a total of 21 flights per week.

The Department of Transportation said in a statement that the flag carrier committed to mount domestic and international flights in Clark beginning December 2016 to first quarter of 2017. (READ: Philippine Airlines reveals wish list for Duterte)

This was inaugurated with PAL’s maiden flight between Clark and Caticlan in Aklan, which was welcomed with a water salute at Clark International Airport on Sunday, December 18.

PAL president James Bautista said the agreement further solidifies the airline’s commitment to help the government develop secondary hubs in order to ease congestion at the Manila terminals.

Starting Sunday, PAL will have one Clark-Caticlan flight a day, or 7 flights in a week.

It was in September when PAL announced that it will soon operate some of its flights from Clark International Airport, moving some domestic operations out of the NAIA.

The PAL president had cited in May the unrealized potential of the airport in Clark.

“The government should develop further Clark airport. It is ready, but it lacks infrastructure. The fueling facility should be improved. There should also be more support industries, like airline catering, ground handling, as well as maintenance and engineering,” Bautista had said. – Rappler.com