Dubai-based carrier Emirates recently reinstated its service to Clark International Airport (CRK), convinced of the growth potential of the hub in terms of both passenger and cargo demand.
Emirates launched on March 30 a daily Dubai-Cebu-Clark circular service utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER. The flight connects Cebu and Clark to 150 destinations around the world.
Emirates in May 2014 suspended its flights to CRK to “ensure the best utilization of its aircraft fleet for its overall business objectives,” the airline said in a statement then.
Now, Emirates senior vice president for Commercial Operations-Far East Badr Abbas said the carrier believes “there is enough passenger and cargo demand and we believe it will be a successful operation.”
He noted Clark Airport is very near Central and Northern Luzon, where 75% of overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in Gulf countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar hail from.
Abbas said there are close to a million OFWs in the UAE and other Gulf member nations, the second largest group after the United States.
The new offering will also help “Filipino cargo exporters because on our flights we have 14 tons going and coming on both ways,” he said.
Popular Philippine exports on this route are expected to be perishables — such as dairy products, fruit especially dried mangoes and vegetables, meat, seafood and electronic equipment.
“We are confident that our new service will have a positive impact on the development of tourism and trade in the Philippines’ regional economies,” Abbas said.
Aside from Emirates, CRK is host to Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, Dragonair, Jin Air, Cebgo, Tiger Air of Singapore, Air Asia Berhad, and Cebu Pacific Air.
