Clark Freeport Zone - London-Based Group Ranks Clark Int'l Airport 3rd Best in World

The London-based Financial Times Business Group ranked Clark International Airport (CIA) third best airport in the world.

“We are in the process of improving our airport facilities. That has been the commitment made by Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas to the President and, therefore, the said agency will exert all its best efforts to improve the facilities of not only Clark but also the other airports,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

Clark International Airport Corp (CIAC) President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Jose Luciano, in a statement, said, “The government wanted to develop a long-term program [for CIA] like the development of a new passenger terminal to house a massive number of passengers as well as aircraft for budget carriers and legacy carriers.”

With this undertaking, the Aquino administration is keen on transforming CIA as the main airport of the country, Luciano said.

CIA is the only airport in the country that has six budget carriers which are AirPhil Express, Air Asia Philippines, Air Asia Malaysia, Cebu Pacific, Jin Air, and Seair that operates 24 hours a day, it was learned.

During the first six months of year 2012, CIAC has recorded a 54 percent growth in passenger volume because of the increased flights of the budget carriers, and full service airlines.

Clark airport is one of the biggest aviation complexes in Asia with two runways in parallel configuration that can easily be extended to four km to accommodate new generation wide-bodied aircraft.

The primary runway has a length of 3,200 meters and a width of 61 meters and is fully equipped with all navigational aids and lighting facilities and has a Category One rating for precision approach while the secondary runway has a length of 3,200 meters and a width of 45 meters.

CIA is well equipped with a terminal radar approach control, navigational aids, meteorological equipment, airfield ground lighting system and crash, fire and rescue facilities.

In a related development, the Financial Times Business Group also ranked the Clark Freeport Zone, the seat of the CIA, as the 8th best Freeport zone in the world, putting Clark on the roster of elite Freeport zones worldwide. (WLB/Joelyn G. Baluyut-PIA3)