Businesses support dual airport system

MANILA, Philippines - Various business groups are supporting a government plan to implement a two-airport system for Luzon designating the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as the southern aviation hub and Clark International Airport (CIA) as the northern aviation center for the region.

The plan is seen by the private sector as enhancing air connectivity, not just in Luzon but also throughout the rest of the country. 

The stakeholders formalized their support at a ceremonial signing of “Clark: The Dual Airport Declaration” held recently at the Makati Shangri-La.

“We are calling for the Philippine government to declare complete support and adoption of the dual-airport system of Clark as the northern airport and NAIA as the southern airport of the Luzon island,” the declaration read.

At the same time, it said, “We are calling for the Philippine government to fast-track development of Clark’s infrastructure to meet current and future passenger, carrier and cargo growth.”

The groups likewise lauded the approval of a P2.5-million interim passenger terminal and P10-million passenger terminal for Clark International Airport in support of the Department of Tourism’s mandated target of 10 million tourist arrivals by 2016. 

In pushing for the dual-airport system, the declaration signatories pointed out the many advantages of making Clark a second international gateway complementing the NAIA, which they said has already exceeded its runway capacity limit.

The group noted that Clark is the fastest growing airport in the Philippines with a 71 percent passenger growth in 2012 over 2011. – Philexport News and Features