One of the biggest passenger and cargo airlines in Asia will soon be flying to and from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga province, north of Manila.
Officials are mum on the identity of the carrier, but sources said this “light blue” carrier would use “the largest narrow-bodied jet” (probably a Boeing 737-900) for the service, which is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2009. Daxim L. Lucas
Terminal confusion
Speaking of the DMIA, the battle for the right to build the passenger terminal of the country’s next aviation hub is about to heat up some more, after Clark International Airport Corp. disqualified Admiral Energy LCC, which earlier hurdled the government’s eligibility requirements, to join the bid.
According to our source from Pampanga, the US-based firm had passed all the benchmarks set by the government—except for the crucial one that required the company to have as a partner a firm that has a solid track record in operating airports (think: Changi Airport, BAA, Fraport AG).
Admiral failed to present partners with sterling records, so it was “sorry guys, you’re out” for them.
This move is bound to worry the US government whose officials were driven up the wall when the government earlier signed a deal with a Chinese firm for a feasibility study on this $185-million project.
But with the Chinese now out of the picture, this mega-deal (hopefully, not the next scam) is still up for grabs. Daxim L. Lucas
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