CIAC signs contract for in-flight catering services

The Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) is readying its in-flight catering services in anticipation of long-haul flights that will operate out of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

CIAC president and chief executive officer Victor Jose I. Luciano recently signed a lease agreement with MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet for the development of an in-flight catering service.

MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet is expected to prepare 4,000 hot meals per day to meet the needs of airlines now operating at DMIA.

Luciano signed the lease agreement with MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet Philippines chairman Jovino Lorenzo Jr. last April 4 with no less than President Arroyo as witness.

MIASCOR is an affiliate of Gate Gourmet, the largest independent in-flight catering in the world.

MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet handles some of the largest hubs in the world and is well-known for its culinary innovation and global expertise as far as in flight catering is concerned.

MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet eGate Solutions allows it to provide state-of-the-art systems to forecast passenger and meal volumes.

MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet’s vast experience and partnership with international hubs allows it to react quickly to changes in aircraft size, flight schedules, departure and arrival gates, ramp requirements and menu cycles.

Luciano said the in-flight catering is vital to DMIA as it would allow the facility to service long-haul airliners.

"We are expecting long-haul airliners to operate at DMIA once the in-flight catering starts operation," Luciano said.

The DMIA is being developed as part of a mega-logistic and services hub in the Subic-Clark corridor.

The DMIA has two 3.2-km runways and a newly acquired $9.3 million radar system.

"The acquisition of the state-of-the-art radar system was just one of the steps taken to improve the infrastructure at DMIA. And now we are trying to establish the in-flight catering facilities at DMIA to cope up with the development of new airports in Asia," said Luciano. – With Ding Cervantes