Govt eyes Subic airport reopening

CAPAS, Tarlac: The Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) could return to operation in the second quarter of 2019 under a revival plan, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on Wednesday.

“The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is proposing for the revival of airport,” Tugade said in a briefing at the site of the proposed New Government Administrative Center in New Clark City.

The airport fell into disuse after American logistics giant Federal Express closed its Subic hub in 2009. The SBMA last year proposed to spend P300 billion to upgrade the facility on top of a P540-million appropriation.

Tugade said the government would focus on fixing aviation facilities but declined to give a cost estimate.

Senator Richard Gordon, who used to be mayor of Olongapo and later SBMA chairman, has called on the government to consider reopening SBIA in a bid to decongest Metro Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).


Re-opening the Subic airport would complement the operation of nearby Clark International Airport, which is also being developed as and alternative to NAIA.

Tugade: Subic airport to reopen in H1 of 2019

CAPAS, TARLAC—The government plans to start passenger operations for the Subic Bay International Airport by the first half of next year, Transport Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said Wednesday.

“We’re closely looking at making the Subic airport operational again,” Tugade said during the economic managers’ press briefing on the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program at the site of the soon-to-rise National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City.

The revival of the airport at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone will complement development at the Clark Freeport Zone, as these two economic zones will be connected by a railway, Tugade said.

The transport chief said the planned reopening of the airport was in response to the request of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the investment promotion agency that administers the free port.

To recall, the airport was abandoned by courier FedEx in 2009 after it relocated its Asian hub to China.

Tugade said the airport’s structure was still sound, but in terms of aviation safety standards, new airport equipment had to be acquired.

The Department of Transportation-attached Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines will fund the provision of navigation equipment, he said.

Operations will start by the first or second quarters of 2019, Tugade said.

Later asked by the Inquirer if the airport would cater to commercial or passenger operations, he said it would serve air passengers.

Last year, the SBMA said the upgrade of the equipment of Subic Bay International Airport would cost about $40 million.—BEN O. DE VERA

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/253528/tugade-subic-airport-reopen-h1-2019#ixzz5Kk3eXKqz
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