Korean Air, Delta mull mounting direct flights via Clark

Korean Air (KE) and Delta Air Lines are looking at mounting direct flights to Clark International Airport (CRK). (File Photo By Patrickroque01/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – Korean Air (KE) and Delta Air Lines are looking at mounting direct flights to Clark International Airport (CRK).

“Everyone’s eyes are now on Clark (Airport).

We’re looking at having direct flights there. Working as one, KE and Delta could bring the passengers to Korea and then to many areas in the United States,” Delta’s Sales Director for Korea and Southeast Asia Andrew Seongsu Kim told the Philippine News Agency.

He added that they have been coordinating with the Clark airport management regarding this plan.

The two carriers have entered a transpacific joint venture since 2018, connecting people to destinations in America and Asia.

Data from CRK showed the airport had 167,366 arrivals from South Korea in the first quarter of 2024, or 2 percent higher than the 164,528 during the same period last year.

To date, only Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, and Aero K fly from Clark to Korea.

Korean Air also acknowledges the huge clamor of Filipinos to go to South Korea, but its Regional General Manager Byungkwon Lee said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is already congested.

KE had increased its flights via Manila from twice to thrice daily since Oct. 29.

Asked about CRK’s edge from other international gateways in the country, Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) president Noel Manankil said they have the latest technology for airport systems, and the flights are well-timed to avoid air traffic and runway congestion.

Aside from fast Immigration and Customs processing, Manankil said CRK also boasts of comfortable waiting areas and clean toilets.

He added that there is no traffic going to the CRK because of the various expressways.

Manankil said CRK’s operator, LIPAD, targets to recover pre-pandemic passenger volume of 4 million a year.

“We will enhance customer experience to international standards by gaining certification from Airport Council International’s Airport Service Quality standards,” he said.

He said they would maintain the processing and queuing time of 30 minutes or less.

The surrounding land will also be developed, he said.

CRK was recently awarded by Routes Asia as winner in the Under 5 Million Passengers category.