Passenger volume in DMIA up in ‘07
15 January 2008

The bustling Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) has recorded an increase in passenger volume surpassing 2006 figures by close to 45,000 signaling a bright future in the development of the civil aviation complex.

At the same time, Clark International Airport Corporation President Victor Jose Luciano has expressed optimism that the 2,500-hectare aviation civil aviation complex will achieve its objective in converting DMIA as the site of an international airport and a megalogistics and services hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

Based on records of the CIAC Operations Department, there is a significant increase in passenger arrivals in both international and domestic with 533,619 in 2007 surpassing the 488,867 figure in 2006.

The figures also showed that an increase of passenger volume by at least 44,863 last year signaling a brighter future for the civil aviation complex being geared as the next premier gateway by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Luciano attributed the increase in passenger volumes to the ongoing operations of various air carriers especially those Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) which catapulted the airline industry in Central Luzon.

Among those operating at DMIA for international flights are Asiana Airlines, Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express, Deer Air and Shanghai Airlines while local carriers operating out of DMIA are South East Asian Airlines (Seair), Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit.

Terminal fee collection at DMIA also increased by 39 percent in 2007 with P112, 615,150 million as compared to the P81,097,750 million in 2006.

He said that 2008 is lined-up by several development projects for the entire civil aviation complex such as the recent $2 million Technical Grant provided by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) which will undertake a Feasibility Study for the preparation of a Master Development Plan in the area. The plan includes the setting up of the Phase 1 of the DMIA Master Development, Logistic Facilities, Runway Extension, Ground Transport Center and the International Gateway Terminal.

Luciano said the airport’s existing terminal is being developed and expected to be completed by March were it would accommodate 1 to 2 million passengers annually. DMIA currently accommodates 500,000 passengers per year in its existing terminal.

He also said that the country’s flag carrier Philippine Air Lines wants to operate at DMIA this year, a move seen to beef-up international and domestic flights in the area.

Last year, CIAC officials and MIASCOR-Gate Gourmet broke ground for the development of a $3 million In-flight catering services that will prepare around 4,000 meals per day to cater to the needs of air carriers operating at DMIA.

“All of these latest developments going-on at the airport will signal a new hope not only for CIAC and Clark but for the entire nation,” Luciano added.