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The Philippines’ flag carrier announced Monday it
will use the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark,
Pampanga, as its international gateway by 2010.
In a press briefing, Jaime
Bautista, Philippine Airlines president and chief executive, told
reporters that the company’s plan to operate in Clark for its
regional and international destinations.
Bautista said the operations in
Clark will give priority to the catering needs of PAL’s regional
and international destinations.
He added the catering facilities
may have a capacity of 10,000 meals per day, which will cost PAL
about P500 million, with $30 million to $50 million going to the
construction of catering, groundhandling facilities and maintenance
and engineering.
“[The project] will be financed
through internal generated funds, loan and equity from partners,”
Bautista said.
The PAL executive said the area
being targeted is the one previously occupied by Federal Express
(FedEx) with about 30 hectares.
“The implementation of the
project would depend on the implementation of CIAC’s [Clark
International Airport Corp.] master plan,” Bautista said, adding
that PAL is in discussion for a 25-year leased agreement.
“Mr. [Lucio] Tan is very
excited in the development of Clark,” he added.
PAL’s announcement followed
rival Cebu Pacific’s disclosure that it would use DMIA as its hub
and fly daily for its five regional destinations.
Based on the planned development
of DMIA, the 5,365-square meter passenger terminal will be expanded
to 60,000 meters by 2015 and to 140,000-square-meter by 2025 to
accommodate the transfer of NAIA’s international operations.
The DMIA airport will also
construct a cargo terminal with at least 33,750 sqm by 2015 and to
increase to 96,750 sqm by 2025 for international cargo.
For domestic cargo, it will built
13,500-sqm terminal by 2015 and 33,750 sqm by 2025.
Sought for comment, Candice Iyog,
Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing and product, said company
plans remain the same “as soon as we get the necessary government
approvals to operate Hong Kong, Singapore, Macua, Taipei and Bangkok
from Clark.”
--Darwin G. Amojelar
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