Revival of Subic Airport eyed

The government is looking to revive the Subic Airport to ease congestion in the country’s main international gateway.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government would want to study if the Subic Airport can be restored into a fully functioning airport.

“It is a good airport but the equipment is no longer there. Maybe we can revive it,” he said.

In 2010, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority planned to convert the airport after the Federal Express transferred its Asia Pacific hub from Subic to Guangzhou in China.

The revival of the airport is seen to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

At present, 87 percent of the country’s air traffic goes through Manila.

Last year, NAIA’s terminals served over 36 million passengers, higher than its annual maximum capacity of 35 million.

To help decongest the NAIA, the government wants to use Clark International Airport.

Tugade said earlier that the government is looking to upgrade Clark International Airport through public-private partnership program.

He said the private sector is competent in building and operating airports.

“Clark Airport has to be addressed by improving the facilities. There are programs to put up additional equipment. Some (pieces of) equipment there are no longer operable,” he said. (Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/09/05/1620537/revival-subic-airport-eyed