The Philippines has launched a campaign encouraging global aerospace companies to establish facilities at Clark International Airport to serve the Asia region and global market. The companies it is targeting includes maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firms, aerospace manufacturers, fixed based operators (FBO), business aviation companies, original equipment makers (OEMs), cargo airlines, logistics companies, regional and international airlines, training organisations and so on.
The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) have come together
for the campaign and will be jointly exhibiting at the Philippine Aviation Pavilion (Hall C
Booth C-E81) at the Singapore Airshow (20-25 February).
Berthaphil Inc, a key stakeholder and pioneer investor and developer in the Clark Freeport
and at Clark International Airport, is also part of the Philippine Aviation Pavilion. Berthaphil
has over 25 years’ experience and is the leading property developer in the Clark Freeport. It
has already completed 12 real estate developments there, including the airport’s first
bonded warehouse and logistics center.
The company is offering a vacant 10-hectare airfield site, with primary runway access, which
is immediately available ‘as is’ or for a build-to-suit project. Berthaphil is now actively
promoting this site to aerospace companies around the world. Clark International Airport is within the Clark Freeport trade zone, so businesses there can receive incentives and favourable tax concessions – up to a seven-year tax holiday and then a 5% corporate income tax rate.
Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK, ICAO: RPLC) is an international gateway to Asia and
capable of handling the largest widebody aircraft. The airport has a 3,200m-long (10,500 ft)
and 60m-wide (196 ft) primary runway. It also has the tallest air traffic control tower and
the newest international airport terminal building in the Philippines with capacity of up to
80 million passengers per year.
The airport is 43.2 nautical miles (80.0 km; 49.7 miles) northwest of Manila, and is accessible
to Manila via the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX). A new passenger and cargo rail system
is due to open in 2025.
“Besides world-class airport infrastructure, a strategic location within Asia’s burgeoning
aviation market and a favorable business environment; another key strength of Clark
International Airport as an aerospace center, is the Philippines’ skilled and qualified
workforce,” said Michael Herman, Berthaphil chairman.
“Building a hangar, for example, doesn’t mean you have a MRO business. The key to having
a successful MRO organization is having the skilled and qualified maintenance engineers and
technicians, which is what the Philippines has,” said Herman.
“It is no secret that many of the qualified maintenance engineers and technicians working in
places such as Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East are Filipinos. Any aerospace
company that establishes itself at Clark has a huge pool of internationally certified talent it
can draw up both locally and from overseas,” added Herman.
MRO organizations that have already established operations at Clark include SIA
Engineering, which does airframe maintenance there. There is also Hong Kong’s MetroJet
which maintains business jets at Clark. And, it is a global gateway for UPS, DHL and FedEx.
“We are honored that leading government agencies and prominent figures in the
Philippines’ aviation industry – such as the Secretary of Transportation for the Philippine
Department of Transportation (DOTr), Jaime Bautista; Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP), director general, Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayao; and Clark International
Airport Corporation president, Arrey Perez; as well as senior representatives from the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI ), Bases Conversion Development Authority and
Clark Development Corporation – will be attending the Singapore Airshow and helping to
promote Philippines aviation and Clark International Airport as a centre for aerospace,” said
Herman.
“Their presence at the Philippine Aviation Pavilion demonstrates that we are all committed
to Clark’s success and aviation business success in the Philippines. Together we look forward
to meeting industry partners and future potential partners at the show. In the Philippines
we say: ‘One PH Aviation – Together We Fly’. Come join us at The Singapore Airshow: Hall C
Booth C-E81 on February 20 at 2pm for the Dignitaries’ Reception and opportunity to meet,”
he added.