15 July 2026
Clark International Airport operator Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) is planning to put up a 759-hectare aviation, logistics, and business hub, with a master plan due by yearend as it seeks to transform the airport into a broader economic gateway.
LIPAD has tapped infrastructure consulting firm AECOM to develop the master plan for the Clark AeroDistrict, which will expand the airport beyond passenger operations by integrating aviation, logistics, business, and investment activities within the Clark Freeport Zone.
“Clark International Airport has always been more than an airport. It is a gateway that connects people, businesses, and opportunities. We want Clark to become a leading hub for aviation, logistics, business, and investment, while helping drive economic growth for the country,” LIPAD President and Chief Executive Officer Noel F. Manankil said on Tuesday.
The master plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year, while development of the Clark AeroDistrict is targeted to be completed within five years, Mr. Manankil said.
Mr. Manankil further said the master plan would be implemented in four phases covering a maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) facility, general aviation and freight services, a cargo facility, and a passenger terminal facility.
A key component of the development is the 130-hectare Cargo City, which is intended to accommodate existing and emerging logistics players.
“The development offers scalable, investment-ready infrastructure that will strengthen supply chains and improve the movement of goods across domestic and international markets,” LIPAD said.
The company said cargo operations have continued to expand. Cargo flights rose 31% year on year to 752 in June, driven by 694 international cargo flights and 52 domestic cargo flights.
For the first six months of the year, cargo flights increased 27% to 3,947 from the comparable period a year earlier.
Cargo throughput rose 10% year on year to 48,655 metric tons, with international cargo accounting for 47,134 metric tons, or 97% of the total volume during the period.
Mr. Manankil said LIPAD is exploring a public-private partnership or joint venture structure for the project.
Meanwhile, LIPAD lowered its passenger traffic target for the year to 3.1 million from 3.3 million after the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran pushed up jet fuel prices, prompting airlines to reduce flight frequencies.
Passenger traffic at Clark International Airport reached 1.64 million in the first half, driven by international travel.
International passenger traffic declined 5% year on year to 879,990, while domestic passenger traffic rose 24% to 758,328 following the transfer of turboprop operations to Clark, Mr. Manankil said.
LIPAD is a consortium composed of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings, Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Services, Inc., and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International. The consortium took over the operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport in 2019.
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