Clark International Airport operator LUZON International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp. is expecting passenger traffic to grow by about 20 percent this year to 3 million, and to fully recover to its pre-pandemic level of about 4 million passengers by 2027.
In the first half of 2025, Clark reported 1.7 million passengers, 52 percent of which came from domestic flights and 48 percent from international flights.
Noel Manankil, LIPAD president and CEO, said the company recalibrated its year-end target from 3.2 million to 3 million following the deferment of the full transfer of turboprop operations to Clark from October this year to March 2026.
“So based on the numbers that we have, it’s now 3 million, which is still in terms of percentage more or less the same level of improvement from 2023 to 2024,” Manankil told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday. “So, we’ll be at least 20 percent higher than our 2024 (level). So, we are hopeful that we still hit 3 million.”
Earlier this month, Philippine Airlines set the start of the gradual shifting of select turboprop routes from Manila to Clark and Cebu in October this year, expanding flights from these hubs while reducing some Manila services in line with the government’s mandate to decongest NAIA.
By 2026, passenger traffic is projected to reach 3.4 million, paving the way for a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels of about 4 million passengers by 2027.
Last May, CRK achieved Level 1 of the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI), a significant milestone in its commitment to deliver a world-class passenger experience.
The ACI Airport Customer Experience Accreditation is the only global program designed to guide airports in improving customer experience management. Through a structured, multilevel process, the program helps airports assess and elevate their customer service practices across eight key domains, from governance and strategy to service design and innovation.
LIPAD is a consortium composed of Filinvest Development Corp.; JG Summit Holdings Inc.; Philippine Airport Ground Support Services Inc.; and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Changi Airports International. The group assumed operations and maintenance of Clark International Airport in 2019.
