NSCR Connection seen to boost passenger growth at Clark Airport

Travelers passing through Clark International Airport will soon enjoy easier access to Metro Manila and Laguna, as the airport will be directly linked to the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) through an airconditioned walkway.

Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), the private operator of Clark Airport, announced that the 300-meter connector walkway will include retail shops and will be built at no cost to the government.

“With the train, I think more than 30 or 40 percent more ang magiging growth pag nandoon na ang tren. Right now we’re experiencing on the average mga 20 percent growth year on year,” said LIPAD President and CEO Noel Manankil.

The NSCR is a 163-kilometer railway designed to connect Clark in Pampanga to Tutuban in Manila and Calamba in Laguna. Its northern segment, originally targeted to open in 2026, has been delayed to 2028 due to right-of-way issues.

Meanwhile, Clark International Airport revised its 2025 passenger target to 3 million, lower than the earlier projection of 3.4 million. The adjustment follows delays in transferring turboprop flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Clark.

“The turboprop, we were expecting 100 percent transfer by October, but the recent development is, I think, Manila will still be keeping a total of six flights a day,” Manankil explained.

Despite this, Clark’s 2025 target remains higher than the 2.4 million passengers recorded in 2024. The airport expects growth to be driven by additional flights starting October, alongside its long-haul services from Qatar Airways and Emirates, and strong demand for connectivity to the United States.

“We are still targeting a total passenger of about 3 million this year, which is more than 20 percent growth from 2024,” Manankil added.

Teri Flores, LIPAD Head of Corporate Communications, highlighted that balikbayans from the U.S. continue to favor Clark, while regional connectivity is also being strengthened by carriers such as Sunlight Air, CebGo, and soon, PAL Express.

The planned walkway and rail connection are expected to make Clark a more accessible gateway, supporting its push to position itself as the premier international airport in Northern and Central Luzon.