The Department of Transportation said Friday the new passenger terminal building of Clark International Airport is expected to open by January next year.
Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture Inc. completed the construction of the new PTB in Clark in September, ahead of the original October target completion date.
Megawide GMR Construction won the construction package of the Clark International Airport expansion project in December 2017 after submitting the lowest bid of P9.36 billion under a hybrid public-private partnership scheme.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the opening of the new PTB for commercial operations by January.
Once operational, it will boost Clark’s operational capacity, tripling the airport’s passenger volume from 4.2 million to 12.2 million annually.
The expansion will also elevate Clark’s stature as “Asia’s Next Premier Gateway” and help decongest the passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque.
Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, AirAsia Berhad, Philippine Airlines and Emirates Airlines.
These airlines mount flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao, Cebu and Kalibo.
Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., formerly known as North Luzon Airport Consortium, earlier signed a 25-year concession agreement with state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority for the operation and maintenance of Clark International Airport.
LIPAD consists of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd.
The consortium plans to establish a new reputation for Philippine international gateway airports to ensure seamless travel in Philippine airports. The consortium’s technical partner is Changi Airport Philippines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International.