AirAsia Group intends to submit a bid in the upcoming tender for a 25-year operation and maintenance contract at Angeles City Clark International, chief executive Tony Fernandes has said.
"Bringing ASEAN together. Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines to bid for Clark airport in Manila and build a big east ASEAN hub. Walking the talk on ASEAN. Kudos to Indonesia airports. Look what can be done in ASEAN when we work together," he wrote in a series of tweets, referring to the regional economic cooperation body Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The bid will be submitted jointly by the main Malaysian unit of the group, as well as Indonesia AirAsia and Philippines AirAsia.
Despite Fernandes' reference to "Clark airport in Manila", the gateway is located around 90 kilometres from Manila Ninoy Aquino International and predominantly serves the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, including the popular tourist destination of Angeles. However, once a new terminal opens in 2020, the airport is poised to become a hub for the entire Clark-Manila region, decongesting the current gateway.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), a government-run organisation dealing with the development of infrastructure in the Philippines, is soliciting bids for Clark airport management and operation until late August. The concession is tentatively scheduled to be awarded by August 30.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Philippines AirAsia is currently the second-largest airline at Clark, with a 16.7% market share by capacity. It operates 32 weekly departures, in comparison with 104 offered by flag carrier Philippine Airlines.
