Clark airport reaches 100,000 guests in December

MANILA, Philippines — The Clark International Airport has received more than 100,000 guests this December and sees this number ballooning before the year closes due to holiday bookings.

The Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) reported that the international airport has yet to reach its maximum passenger capacity of eight million annually.

The new terminal building at the Clark International Airport has facilitated the entry and exit of at least 780,000 passengers, most of which went to or came from an international destination.

According to LIPAD, it is anticipating a surge of travelers departing through its airport in time for the holiday season, particularly at the end of December and start of January with Filipinos returning home from their trips.

Data showed that the Clark airport has received 102,000 passengers this month, with three in every four of them headed to or arriving from a foreign destination.

This was 20 percent higher than the November volume of 85,000.

LIPAD said that the Clark airport is ready to welcome the rush of guests for the holiday season, boasting amenities and facilities that enhance passenger experience.

It currently employs a one-time security check and uses contactless equipment to reduce the time spent by travelers in checking in their luggage and proceeding to their gates.

It has also built a lounge for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and gender-neutral toilets, both of which meant to promote comfort, inclusivity and safety for guests.

Last September, LIPAD opened the 110,000 square meter new terminal building of the international airport that is made to accommodate up to eight million passengers yearly.

The gateway is relied on to serve the air travel demand of guests coming from the north of Luzon and trim the passenger volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Over at the sea, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said that passenger traffic in the 25 ports it manages is hitting 50,000 daily since Dec. 18, jumping by at least 10,000 a week ago, as Filipinos began their exodus to the regions for their holiday trips.

The PPA has deployed around 3,000 security forces to monitor any irregularities at the ports.

Based on estimates, the PPA projects passenger traffic in domestic ports to more than double to about 57 million this year from 23 million last year.