Manila to Redirect Turboprop Operations to Clark International, Aiming for Modernization

The Philippine government is actively encouraging airlines to transition their turboprop operations from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Angeles City Clark International, located approximately 115 kilometers north. This advisory, though not yet formalized into a directive, seeks to shift turboprop flights to the recently enhanced Clark facility.

Currently, Cebgo—a regional subsidiary of Cebu Pacific Air—along with other carriers like AirSWIFT and Sunlight Air, operate turboprop routes out of NAIA. Notably, Sunlight Air has already started moving most of its Manila operations to Clark. This move is part of broader efforts led by the incoming NAIA concessionaire, spearheaded by San Miguel Corporation, which plans to convert Terminal 4, predominantly used for turboprop traffic, into a warehouse space, with further plans to construct a new terminal.

Alexander Lao, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Cebu Pacific, mentioned ongoing consultations about the proposed shift and expressed the need to review the final policy before making a definitive comment. “We are hopeful general aviation is fully removed,” Lao stated, indicating a significant operational change.

Philippine Airlines’ Executive Vice President, Carlos Luis Fernandez, acknowledged the government’s initiative, emphasizing the necessity for gradual transition due to operational dependencies. “We have been engaging with the government, and they understand that we cannot do it right away,” Fernandez explained.

Despite these developments, Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John Batan clarified in the Philippine Star that there is currently “no policy” mandating the phase-out of turboprop operations at NAIA but affirmed the government’s preference for relocating these flights to Clark.

The relocation initiative coincides with significant enhancements at Clark International, which now boasts a new passenger terminal increasing its capacity to 12.2 million passengers annually and plans for an additional runway. The airport already hosts seventeen airlines, including new entrants such as Aero K, Air Busan, and Starlux Airlines.

This strategic reallocation from Manila to Clark represents a pivotal shift in the Philippines’ aviation strategy, aiming to optimize airspace utilization and expand capacity while modernizing infrastructure to accommodate growing passenger and cargo volumes.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com