Clark to host 30-hectare cargo hub for logistics boost

MANILA, Philippines — Clark International Airport is betting all of its chips on becoming an aviation powerhouse in Asia-Pacific, this time planning a 30-hectare cargo city to increase logistics traffic.

Airport operator Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp. is designing a blueprint for the Integrated Cargo and Logistics Ecosystem that would be built on the gateway.

The ecosystem, shortly called cargo city, aims to redevelop 30 hectares of the airport land into an all-in-one complex for logistics activities to attract more courier giants.

Clark International Airport is becoming a logistics magnet, attracting some of the world’s largest freighters to set up shop or expand facilities. Logistics giant United Parcel Services Inc. is opening in September a new sorting facility.

Courier giant FedEx Corp. is also building a new handling facility spanning more than 78,000 square meters, scheduled to open in early-2028. Lufthansa Technik Philippines is also putting up a base maintenance facility, covering 157,000 sqm, set for opening in 2028.

LIPAD president and CEO Noel Manankil said it became necessary for the operator to rethink how to best handle the airport, with 160 hectares of its leasable area almost exhausted now.

The planned cargo city will ensure that the airport is ready to manage future locators that may be enticed to come in because of the ongoing expansion of logistics players.

Likewise, LIPAD is working on transforming Clark International Airport into an airport city, to be called Clark AeroDistrict, where aviation, commerce and logistics activities converge.

As a whole, LIPAD is provided with 759.39 hectares under its concession to develop and expand Clark International Airport. The land is divided into four areas, with the largest allocated for cargo and commercial operations.

As of June, the airport has grown its passenger traffic by six percent to 1.64 million. By segment, the gateway expanded its domestic volume by 24 percent to 758,328, propelled by the transfer of turboprop flights that exited Manila.

However, international passenger traffic decreased by five percent to 879,990, dragged by flight disruptions at the height of the Middle East conflict.

As such, LIPAD lowered its passenger traffic target for the year to 3.1 million, from 3.3 million, delaying the return to pre-pandemic level of four million to 2028.