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Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. is allocating 30 hectares for its proposed Cargo City, a hub for logistics players and modern supply chain infrastructure
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Located in Zone 3 of CRK’s civil aviation complex, the proposed development will feature high-utility land zoning tailored for warehousing, general logistics operations, and specialized cold storage facilities
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Currently under active development, the Cargo City is aimed to create an environment capable of supporting a wide range of industries, including e-commerce, perishables, electronics, and high-value manufacturing, among others
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Other developments supporting LIPAD’s vision for CRK as a logistics and aviation hub are ongoing, including the expansion of operations of logistics service providers FedEx and UPS, and the entry of a new MRO service provider
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CRK in 2025 handled 93,900 tons of cargo, 60.5% higher from the 58,500 tons in 2024, as it recorded 6,764 cargo flights, up 40% from the 4,827 flights in 2024
Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), operator of the Clark International Airport (CRK), has allocated 30 hectares for its proposed Cargo City, which will be developed as a hub for logistics players and modern supply chain infrastructure.
Located in Zone 3 of CRK’s civil aviation complex, the proposed development will feature high-utility land zoning tailored for warehousing, general logistics operations, and specialized cold storage facilities, LIPAD vice president for commercial development Evamgeline Tejada said in a presentation during the recent 4th Central Luzon Transport and Trade Conference and Exhibit jointly hosted by PortCalls and the Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc.
“As cargo demand and logistics requirements continue to evolve, the hub will be able to expand and develop and adapt to future technologies, increasing trade volume, and changing supply chain models. Our vision is to create a fully-integrated cargo ecosystem, one that seamlessly connects air, rail, and road infrastructure to enable faster, more efficient cargo movement across the region,” Tejada said.
Currently under active development, the proposed Cargo City will be purposely built for next generation logistics players and designed to integrate advanced infrastructure that supports modern supply chains.
The Cargo City is near the CRK terminal, allowing access to the belly hold of commercial flights, and to the National Food Hub being developed by Clark International Airport Corp. It is aimed to create an environment capable of supporting a wide range of industries, including e-commerce, perishables, electronics, and high-value manufacturing, among others.
“By positioning Clark as a future-ready logistics gateway, this project is expected to attract global logistics providers, encourage new investments, generate employment opportunities and strengthen the Philippines’ goal in regional and international trade,” Tejada said.
Other developments
Aside from Cargo City, other developments supporting LIPAD’s vision for CRK as a logistics and aviation hub are ongoing. Tejada said a new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services provider is set to locate within CRK’s MRO area.
While Tejada declined to disclose the name of the new operator, MacroAsia Corp. recently announced that its unit Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) has signed a lease agreement for a plot of land at CRK. The Department of Trade and Industry also earlier said LTP is planning to build a second hangar in CRK valued at around $150 million to be built over two years.
LTP will be joining other existing MRO service providers at CRK, including SIA Engineering (Philippines) Corp., Aviation Partnership Philippines, and Metrojet Engineering Clark Ltd., among others.
On the freighter zone, major players FedEx and UPS have ongoing expansions. FedEx last May 18 broke ground for the expansion of its Clark gateway facility, which is eyed to start operations in 2028. UPS’s new facility will also start operations in September 2026, mounting new flights from CRK.
To support the requirements of these logistics players, Tejada said new aprons and taxiways are expected to be constructed in CRK by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and completed by 2030. Last April, BCDA also awarded the joint venture of Schema Konsult Inc. and South Korea-based Yooshin Engineering Corp. the P206.9-million contract for CRK second runway engineering design.
While the new runway will not allow simultaneous landing and takeoff, Tejada said it will significantly improve support for cargo and flight operations.
“This development is particularly important for major freight operators like FedEx and UPS and the new cargo carriers entering the market. In cargo logistics, even a minute of delay can have a major impact due to the just-in-time delivery requirements of goods,” Tejada said.
READ: DOTr, BCDA to set up industrial, transport hub in Clark airport
LIPAD is also looking forward to rail projects that will link CRK with other hubs and further improve its connectivity. These include the Subic–Clark–Manila–Batangas Freight Rail Project, which is currently undergoing feasibility studies, and the ongoing North-South Commuter Railway.
All these developments come as CRK handles more air cargo.
CRK in 2025 handled 93,900 tons of cargo, 60.5% higher than the 58,500 tons in 2024, as it recorded 6,764 cargo flights, up 40% from 4,827 in 2024.
READ: Clark International Airport reports 100% jump in cargo shipments for Jan-May
Tejada said the growth was largely driven by the entry of Chinese cargo carriers and the increase in demand for e-commerce.
Currently, there are 10 airlines providing 75 times weekly freight flights in 14 destinations. Each flight can handle a range of 18 tons to 50 tons of cargo per flight.
In addition, there are 318 flights weekly by 15 commercial airlines in 23 destinations that provide belly hold cargo capacity. Of these, three carriers have the biggest capacity per flight: Qatar Airways (12 tons), EVA Air (10 tons), and Emirates (23 tons).— Roumina Pablo
