CLARK FREEPORT — Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), operator of Clark International Airport (CRK), has revised its 2025 passenger traffic forecast downward to 3 million, from an earlier estimate of 3.2 million, citing operational delays and airline changes.
LIPAD CEO Noel Manankil attributed the downgrade primarily to the government’s postponement of the planned transfer of turboprop operations from Manila to Clark, now expected to take effect by March 2026 instead of October 2025. The exit of Jetstar Asia from CRK also impacted passenger volume.
Despite the adjustment, Manankil said the airport still expects a 20 percent year-on-year increase from 2024’s total of 2.4 million passengers. CRK handled 1.7 million passengers in the first half of 2025, with domestic traffic accounting for 52 percent and international at 48 percent.
Commercially, the delayed transfer limits short-term traffic growth but maintains a long-term expansion outlook. “It’s just pushed back by a few months,” Manankil noted.
CRK continues to gain industry recognition, having been named International Airport of the Year – Philippines at the 2024 TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards – Asia. Its adherence to global standards, including regular audits by Airports Council International (ACI) and the implementation of Minimum Performance Specifications and Standards (MPSS), reinforces its role as a key aviation hub in the region.
