Clark International Airport Corp (CIAC) will soon submit its proposal to build a P12-billion dedicated terminal for low-cost carriers to the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications.
Patterned after similar terminals in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the planned facility is expected to be completed by 2015. It can accommodate 10 million passengers a year compared to the current 2.5-million capacity of Diosdado Macapagal International Terminal (DMIA), two hours from the capital Manila.
“With the expected growth in volume of passengers who opt to take low-cost carriers, the budget terminal is needed to match the requirements of airlines. Low-cost airlines need a simple operation that is cost-effective,” CIAC president Victor Jose Luciano said.
“The terminal facility if completed will be more gainful to the country’s economy and will make Clark a potential international gateway,” he added.
Among low-cost carriers calling at DMIA are Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Asiana Airlines, SEAIR, China Southern Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Last year, DMIA handled 725,023 international passengers, up 19% from 607,704 in 2010.
Meanwhile, CIAC has started the bidding process for the second phase of the DMIA terminal expansion.
Photo of Diosdao Macapagal International Airport courtesy of http://www.
