CLARK International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the government agency running Clark International Airport (CIA) in northern Philippines, posted positive profit for 2013, its first since it started operations 19 years ago.
CIAC generated revenue of P563 million for 2013, an increase of 9% from P516 million in the same period last year, while posting a turnaround from a net loss of P7 million in 2012 to a P44 million net profit last year.
Operating expenses rose 6% to P363 million from P343 million in 2012.
“We had a very good 2013 for CIAC, wherein the corporation turned positive in its revenues, mainly because of the support of the Aquino administration in the development of the Clark Airport as well as the entry of the Middle East legacy carriers Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways,” CIAC president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano said in a statement.
The two Middle East carriers started direct flights to Doha and Dubai from CIA in October last year.
CIAC finance department manager Nancy Paglinawan explained that 51% of the airport’s total revenues came from aeronautical fees such as terminal, security, landing, parking and take-off fees.
Revenues from non-aeronautical fees that include income from rent and other business income rose 63% from P169 million in 2012 to P277 million in 2013.
The North Luzon gateway expects to boost its passenger capacity with the rehabilitation of its existing passenger terminal and the construction of a new one.
The Department of Transportation and Communications has tapped French firm Aeroports De Paris to undertake a three-month feasibility study for the master plan and design of the P7.2 billion budget terminal, which will be funded by the transport department.
The budget terminal is expected to service 15 million passengers annually. CIA’s international passenger terminal was completed in December 2013 and the rehabilitation of the existing passenger building is ongoing and expected to be finished his February.
The government also approved a P600-million budget for the development of CIA’s facilities.
Clark Airport is the Philippine hub of Asiana Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Jin Air, Tigerair Philippines, and Dragonair.
Photo from ww.crk.clarkairport.com
