Regional carrier Dragonair said it would expand its operations in Clark International Airport in Pampanga by adding more flights to Hong Kong, where it is based.
The airline, owned by Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, said it was encouraged by recent policy statements coming from the Duterte administration, which planned to improve connectivity and passenger infrastructure at Clark Airport.
“We are increasing our frequencies this December from four to six times weekly as we are expecting an increase in traffic at Clark Airport, and we are very much excited on the developments (in relation to the CRK),” Dragonair country manager Rob Bradshaw said in a statement on Tuesday.
The airline said its Clark Airport station was already ranked “number one” in its entire network “due to the increase in passenger traffic of the airline.”
Bradshaw also said that Dragonair hopes to establish a “long-term plan” for Clark Airport.
This would include increasing further the number of flights it operates.
The development also comes as Dragonair embarks on a corporate rebranding that will change its name to Cathay Dragon.
“We hope this new brand will bolster demand, especially for Clark Airport,” Bradshaw said.
Dragonair is a full service carrier which started operations in Clark Airport in November 2008.
It operates in 44 destinations in 134 countries and territories across Asia.
It has a fleet of 41 aircraft consisting of A320s, A321s, A330s and B747.
As noted, statements coming out of the current Department of Transportation signaled the administration’s willingness to further develop Clark as an alternative hub to Metro Manila and provinces in Northern Luzon.
Among the government’s projects are a new passenger terminal for Clark Airport, which still struggles to lure passenger traffic relative to its available capacity.
That was mainly due to the lack of mass transit options, like a railway system, linking it to Metro Manila.
The Clark facility is located over an hour and a half away from the capital district by car.
Recently, the Duterte administration vowed to pursue the construction of a train line from Metro Manila to Clark Airport.
The administration also wanted to build a new passenger terminal there, and that the plan could be pursued under the Public Private Partnership Program.