Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) announced more flights to and from Clark International Airport (CRK) by Christmastime as part of its continued drive to develop the Pampanga air transport hub.
Beginning December 16, 2016, Cebu Pacific will increase its Clark-Cebu-Clark operations from three times weekly to six, while the Clark-Hong Kong-Clark frequency will go up from seven times a week to 10 times weekly.
By augmenting flights between Clark and Hong Kong, Cebu Pacific in a statement said it hopes to “further stimulate economic trade and investments from one of Asia’s largest financial hubs to North and Central Luzon.”
On the other hand, increased flights to Cebu, the Philippines’ second largest city, will boost domestic tourism opportunities.
Cebu Pacific is currently the only Philippine carrier to operate flights out of Clark, something it has been doing since November 2008. The airline operates 21 flights weekly from Clark to Cebu, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore, utilizing 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.
This further growth in Clark operations will increase Cebu Pacific’s commitment to 27 flights weekly.
“As one of CEB’s six strategic hubs in the country, CEB will continue to grow Clark to serve the needs of North and Central Luzon. The additional frequencies and further investments strengthen our commitment to the development of the country’s airports. We sincerely look forward to the progression of flight and ground operations at Clark as well as a furthering of incentives that Clark will offer to the carriers,” Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs JR Mantaring said.
Moreover, Cebu Pacific has established its own maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, the SIA Engineering Philippines, at the hub. Incorporated in 2008, the state-of-the-art facility is a joint venture with the SIA Engineering Company of Singapore, and features three hangars that perform base maintenance, line maintenance, and air-worthiness approvals for Cebu Pacific.
The airline also utilizes the Philippine Academy for Aviation Training, another joint venture with the global civil aviation and defense training provider CAE. The training center located at the Clark Special Economic Zone offers type-rating and recurrency training for the Airbus A320 family.
In 2015, Cebu Pacific carried over 330,000 passengers to and from Clark. The robust figures continue into 2016, which has seen the airline flying more than 190,000 passengers to and from Clark between January and July.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said some airlines have signified plans to operate at CRK. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said it will soon transfer some flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to CRK to help decongest the country’s main gateway.
Aside from Cebu Pacific, CRK is host to carriers Emirates, Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, Dragonair, Jin Air, Cebgo, Tiger Air of Singapore, and Air Asia Berhad.
