How Emirates’ Clark flights influence PH strategy

Rappler.com

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The Aquino administration has noted the decision of Emirates to operate at the Clark airport in its international airport strategy

COMING SOON. Clark-Dubai direct flights start in October. Photo courtesy of Emirates

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration has noted the decision of Dubai-based legacy airline Emirates to operate at the Clark airport, about 100 kilometers away from the current main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in capital Manila. 

On Wednesday, May 29, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said President Benigno Aquino III is now open to a twin airport strategy, involving both NAIA and Clark airports, instead of just one. 

Citing Emirates’ Clark-Dubai flights starting in October, Abaya said in a foreign correspondents forum that adopting the twin airport strategy would no longer involve forcing international airlines operating in NAIA to transfer to Clark. 

“We won’t force the airlines to go to Clark. On their own they will transfer because Emirates is going there. I think there will be a natural flow,” he said.

Most international airlines operate in NAIA, currently the country’s main gateway. NAIA, however, is congested and physically constrained to expand.

Clark sits on a sprawling property that had served as a military base for the US. Passenger traffic there has been growing exponentially since it services a catchment area of 17 million people in the central and northern Luzon areas. 

Budget airlines AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air currently operate there and are bullish about the feeder traffic that the Emirates flights would bring. The local airlines eye the international passengers of Emirates who will need connecting flights to domestic destinations. – Rappler.com

 

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