6 Airlines Eye Clark Airport

Six more foreign airlines have expressed interest in operating at the Clark International Airport (CIA).

V-Air of Taiwan, Jetstar of Singapore, Thai Smile of Thailand, Ryani Air of Malaysia, Express Air of Indonesia, Air India and Airline 4.0 are eyeing regular flights here, Emigdio Tanjuatco, Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief executive officer, told a recent press briefing.

Tanjuatco said Emirates Airlines, the largest Middle East carrier, would also resume its operations at CIA starting March 30.

“Emirates is expected to launch daily services on the Dubai-Cebu-Clark route. Services will operate seven days a week from Dubai serving Cebu then Clark and onto Dubai in a circular pattern,” he said.

Emirates suspended its operations at Clark airport last year over jet fuel taxes and competition from other airlines.

Meanwhile, the construction of the proposed P12-billion passenger terminal at CIA is expected to start next year after the government decided to hold a new bidding for a new designer.

The design project is worth P500 million, according to a source from the Department of Transportation and Communications.

“It was decided that the ADP (Aeroporte de Paris) design, which was finished as a grant at no cost to the government be dropped so that we can hire a consultant who can build a new design appropriate for construction in phases,” Tanjuatco said.