State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said that the Clark civil aviation complex in Pampanga is set to become a global hub for logistics and aviation services, with backing from major international companies.
In a statement, Joshua M. Bingcang, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said the area is well on its way to establishing itself as a premier global logistics and aviation hub due to ongoing investments in the facilities at the Clark International Airport (CRK).
Bingcang said the plan of turning Clark into a top-tier logistics and aviation hub will be achieved with the expansion plans of Federal Express Corp. (FedEx), UPS, and Lufthansa Technik AG.
“With its own international airport and accessibility to Northern Luzon and Metro Manila via expressways, Clark is the perfect spot for air freight and aviation services—and international companies are certainly taking notice,” Bingcang said on Thursday, July 11.
“We at the BCDA Group are excited to witness how these players will transform the landscape of Clark and transform it into a global logistics hub,” he added.
In March, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD), the company that operates CRK, entered into a partnership agreement with UPS to expand its operations at the airport.
UPS' expanded hub in Clark will become operational by 2026 and will strengthen the company’s range of integrated express, supply chain, and healthcare logistics services in the Asia-Pacific region.
More recently, LIPAD also allowed FedEx to expand and double the capacity of its gateway in Clark.
FedEx said the expansion will boost the company's ability to support local businesses venturing into the international market and meet the growing demand for e-commerce, freight, and cold-chain shipments in the region.
Additionally, Lufthansa Technik, a provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft, engines, and components, has announced its plan to invest P8 billion to construct its second hangar in Clark.
To support the needs of these companies, the BCDA said it will undertake the expansion of CRK’s airside facilities, including taxiways, aprons, landside access roads, and utilities, to accommodate more aircraft movement, improve turnaround times, and enhance the overall operational efficiency of the airport.
This is one of the priority projects being pitched by the national government as part of the Luzon Economic Corridor.
“In order to attract more investors and sustain the momentum for Clark, the BCDA is committed to deliver the necessary infrastructure and support to businesses. This expansion is only the first phase of our long-term development plan for CRK. In the future, we will also develop a second runway for the airport, among others,” Bingcang said.