PAL expands Japan flights

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade is brokering an agreement between flag carrier Philippine Airlines and Japan’s Ministry of Transporation to mount new flights at Clark International Airport by next year.

In a statement from the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), Tugade said he is currently in talks with the Minister of Transportation of Japan and PAL officials for the launch of Japan flights at Clark Airport through Okinawa.

The move to offer flights to Japan from Clark is expected to provide more international service to passengers particularly those coming from Central and Northern Luzon.

“This will further develop Clark Airport as it ( is) now being prioritized by President Rodrigo Duterte to help decongest Metro Manila,” Tugade said.

PAL started operating at the Clark International Airport through the launch of flights to Caticlan last Friday.

After Caticlan, PAL Express president Bonifacio Sam said the plan is to expand operations at the Clark Airport by making flights available to Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Busuanga next year.

PAL Express is the sister firm of PAL.

PAL said earlier it is also planning to offer flights to Incheon in South Korea from Clark by next year.

Sam said flying from the Clark Airport “is part of our commitment to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.”

The government wants to position the Clark International Airport as an alternative to the congested NAIA.

Last year, NAIA’s four terminals handled over 36 million passengers, higher than the annual maximum capacity of 35 million passengers.

CIAC president and CEO Alexander Cauguiran said the government would support PAL’s plans in Clark to further enhance the development of the airport.

To encourage more airlines to operate in Clark, Tugade said the government would continue to develop the Clark International Airport.