Clark airport exec seeks 3M passengers in 2015

THE CLARK International Airport INQUIRER Central Luzon file photo

CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines—The Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) has stepped up its marketing program to serve 3 million passengers and attract more airlines to the Clark International Airport (CRK) in 2015.

Emigdio Tanjuatco III, CIAC president and chief executive officer, and cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, said in a forum here on Wednesday that the state of infrastructure of CRK shows that it is ready to be a leading international airport.

In 2013, 1.3 million passengers flew via CRK through eight airlines based here. The number of passengers, however, dropped when AirAsia Berhad and Emirates Airlines shifted operations to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), some 100 km from Clark.

Marketing efforts have been strengthened after a study showed that 1.5 million passengers from northern and central Luzon traveled via Naia because they were not aware of flights at CRK.

The inclusion of P1.2 billion in the 2015 national budget as initial funding for a bigger terminal showed that CRK is an important facility, CIAC officials said. The new terminal aims to accommodate eight million passengers, they said.

Marketing strategies include regular roadshows in the regions and stronger coordination with local governments. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon