lizaphil
8th April 2008, 11:10
There's a wild rumor going around the Philippines that the scruffy Manila International Airport will close, and the country's primary international airport will move up to Angeles City, former home to Clark A.F.B. and site of a humongous airport left behind by the Americans.
No wait, it's true.
After two decades of struggling to improve the worst airport in Asia, the Philippine government has apparently thrown in the towel and abandoned all hope, and will someday close down disgraceful NAIA and force all international air arrivals to deplane in Angeles, some two hours north of Manila. Two hours. And you thought Hong Kong, Korea, and Tokyo had inconveniently located airports...just wait until you have to board some ratty old Philippine Rabbit bus from Angeles bus terminal down to Manila.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has announced that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila will be closed to give way to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here as the main international airport of the country.
Clark will now be the new premier airport, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared during last Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Malacañang convened to discuss the future of Philippine aviation, including DMIA's role as a developmental route where a liberalized regime of air policies will be in effect.
Prior to issuing the directive, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza briefed the President on the need to transfer NAIA's operations to DMIA to ensure the country's economic competitiveness.
"For the Philippines to be competitive, we have to close NAIA as our major gateway and transfer to Clark," Mendoza said referring to an impending multi-lateral agreement providing for an open skies regime among a number of Asian countries including the Philippines.
"In other words, you are saying Clark will not just be a developmental route, it will now be the premier airport," Arroyo told Mendoza adding Clark will now be phased in as the premier airport because NAIA is too crowded already.
Sun Star Pampangna
No wait, it's true.
After two decades of struggling to improve the worst airport in Asia, the Philippine government has apparently thrown in the towel and abandoned all hope, and will someday close down disgraceful NAIA and force all international air arrivals to deplane in Angeles, some two hours north of Manila. Two hours. And you thought Hong Kong, Korea, and Tokyo had inconveniently located airports...just wait until you have to board some ratty old Philippine Rabbit bus from Angeles bus terminal down to Manila.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has announced that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila will be closed to give way to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here as the main international airport of the country.
Clark will now be the new premier airport, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared during last Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Malacañang convened to discuss the future of Philippine aviation, including DMIA's role as a developmental route where a liberalized regime of air policies will be in effect.
Prior to issuing the directive, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza briefed the President on the need to transfer NAIA's operations to DMIA to ensure the country's economic competitiveness.
"For the Philippines to be competitive, we have to close NAIA as our major gateway and transfer to Clark," Mendoza said referring to an impending multi-lateral agreement providing for an open skies regime among a number of Asian countries including the Philippines.
"In other words, you are saying Clark will not just be a developmental route, it will now be the premier airport," Arroyo told Mendoza adding Clark will now be phased in as the premier airport because NAIA is too crowded already.
Sun Star Pampangna