AirAsia goes to the Philippines

AirAsia to launch flights to Manila

Search ASIA Travel Tips .com 21 March 2005

AirAsia is to commence flights to Diosdado Macapagal International
Airport (formerly Clark Angeles Airport) near Manila in the
Philippines, beginning 5th April 2005. Daily flights for this new
service will be operated simultaneously out of 2 points in Malaysia,
Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kota Kinabalu International
Airport, in Sabah, Borneo island.

"We are pleased to commence flights to Clark Field, Philippines from
two of the most prestige destinations in Malaysia. We aim to provide
more connections for the people of Philippines to visit Malaysia, and
to enhance the hub status of Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. By
connecting Clark to Malaysia and linking it to our network of flights
serving Thailand, Indonesia, and Macau, AirAsia is indirectly bringing
the people of ASEAN closer and thus one step nearer to achieve a
borderless ASEAN policy" said Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive
Officer, AirAsia Berhad.

Fares for these destinations are as follows:
Kuala Lumpur - Clark from RM129.99 / 1949 peso one way
Kota Kinabalu - Clark from RM 119.99 / 1799 peso one way

A former U.S military air base located in the Clark Special Economic
Zone, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is approximately 80 km
north of Manila. AirAsia will provide a connection between Clark and
Manila with specially arranged busses that are scheduled to coincide
with AirAsia's flight arrivals.

A former U.S military air base located in the Clark Special Economic
Zone, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is approximately 80
kilometers north of Manila (approximately one and half to two hours bus
ride). The connection between Clark and Manila is further enhanced with
specially arranged shuttle buses that are scheduled to coincide with
AirAsia's flight arrivals and departure. These 40-seater air
conditioned buses are provided by Philtranco Service Enterprises.

Shuttle Bus Timetable

Clark Airport - SM Megamall, Ortigas
Pick up / Drop Off
12:30 / 14:30
17:30 / 19:30

SM Megamall, Ortigas - Clark Airport
Pick up / Drop Off
07:00 / 09:30
12:00 / 14:00


Bus Fare
=B7 300 peso (approximately USD$5.55) one way per person
=B7 No charges for children below 2 years old sitting on adult's lap
=B7 Payment: Pay at Transport Counter (after baggage area, near the
exit to Arrival Hall at the terminal building) or on board the bus

Buses from Clark International Airport:
The buses for arriving Guests will be parked outside the Arrival Hall
of Clark International Airport main exit. There will be a signage. The
number of buses provided will depend on the in-bound load to ensure
safety and comfort.

Buses to Clark International Airport (from Philtranco Terminal):
The pick-up point is at the Philtranco Terminal, Ground Floor, SM
Megamall Building A, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City.
There will be a counter and signage.

Bus Drop-off point in Manila (from Clark International Airport):
The drop-off point is at the Philtranco Terminal, Ground Floor, SM
Megamall Building A, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City.

From Manila to other parts in town:
Before leaving Clark International Airport, Guests may request at the
bus service personnel to organize a taxi or rent-a-car service upon
arriving in the city. Their contacts at the SM Megamall, Manila, will
assist in making the necessary arrangements as requested.
Other available transport from Clark International Airport to any
intended destination:
There is a rent-a-car and taxi services counter at the Arrival Hall.
Transport charges to be checked at the counter.

FLIGHT SCHEDULES

Kuala Lumpur - Clark Flights from Departure / Arrival Flight Frequency
Kuala Lumpur to Clark 0720 / 1115 (local time) AK 32 Daily
Clark to Kuala Lumpur 1630 / 2025 (local time) AK 33 Daily

Kota Kinabalu - Clark Flights from Departure / Arrival Flight Frequency

Kota Kinabalu to Clark 1405 / 1605(local time) AK 502 Daily
Clark to Kota Kinabalu 1140 / 1340 (local time) AK 503 Daily

A former U.S military air base located in the Clark Special Economic
Zone, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is approximately 80
kilometers north of Manila (approximately one and half to two hours bus
ride). The connection between Clark and Manila is further enhanced with
specially arranged shuttle buses that are scheduled to coincide with
AirAsia's flight arrivals and departure. These 40-seater air
conditioned buses are provided by Philtranco Service Enterprises.

Shuttle Bus Timetable

Clark Airport - SM Megamall, Ortigas
Pick up / Drop Off
12:30 / 14:30
17:30 / 19:30

SM Megamall, Ortigas - Clark Airport
Pick up / Drop Off
07:00 / 09:30
12:00 / 14:00


Bus Fare
=B7 300 peso (approximately USD$5.55) one way per person
=B7 No charges for children below 2 years old sitting on adult's lap
=B7 Payment: Pay at Transport Counter (after baggage area, near the
exit to Arrival Hall at the terminal building) or on board the bus

Buses from Clark International Airport:
The buses for arriving Guests will be parked outside the Arrival Hall
of Clark International Airport main exit. There will be a signage. The
number of buses provided will depend on the in-bound load to ensure
safety and comfort.

Buses to Clark International Airport (from Philtranco Terminal):
The pick-up point is at the Philtranco Terminal, Ground Floor, SM
Megamall Building A, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City.
There will be a counter and signage.

Bus Drop-off point in Manila (from Clark International Airport):
The drop-off point is at the Philtranco Terminal, Ground Floor, SM
Megamall Building A, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City.

From Manila to other parts in town:
Before leaving Clark International Airport, Guests may request at the
bus service personnel to organize a taxi or rent-a-car service upon
arriving in the city. Their contacts at the SM Megamall, Manila, will
assist in making the necessary arrangements as requested.
Other available transport from Clark International Airport to any
intended destination:
There is a rent-a-car and taxi services counter at the Arrival Hall.
Transport charges to be checked at the counter.

FLIGHT SCHEDULES

Kuala Lumpur - Clark Flights from Departure / Arrival Flight Frequency
Kuala Lumpur to Clark 0720 / 1115 (local time) AK 32 Daily
Clark to Kuala Lumpur 1630 / 2025 (local time) AK 33 Daily

Kota Kinabalu - Clark Flights from Departure / Arrival Flight Frequency

Kota Kinabalu to Clark 1405 / 1605(local time) AK 502 Daily
Clark to Kota Kinabalu 1140 / 1340 (local time) AK 503 Daily

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 16:18:03 +0800, Chris Blunt
wrote:

On 19 Mar 2005 07:50:48 -0800, "aseanair" wrote:

another of AirAsia's newest international destinations
MANILA (CLARK), PHILIPPINES
8,888 seats from only RM 119.99/PHP 1,799
only at http://www.airasia.com

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM129.99 / PHP1,949

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM119.99 / PHP1,799

Anyone hoping to get to Manila this way should be aware that Clark is
about 80kms north of Manila. It would take a couple of hours after
landing at Clark to get into the city itself, and I'm not sure that
AirAsia are providing any ground transportation for that. If they
don't, then finding another means of transport to get to Manila from
Clark airport would not be so easy.

Chris


You are wrong. It is easy to get to Manila from Clark. Buses run
all the time. If you are not up for riding the bus you can hire a
private car.

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 18:39:21 -0600, Group Group@ wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 16:18:03 +0800, Chris Blunt
wrote:

On 19 Mar 2005 07:50:48 -0800, "aseanair" wrote:

another of AirAsia's newest international destinations
MANILA (CLARK), PHILIPPINES
8,888 seats from only RM 119.99/PHP 1,799
only at http://www.airasia.com

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM129.99 / PHP1,949

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM119.99 / PHP1,799

Anyone hoping to get to Manila this way should be aware that Clark is
about 80kms north of Manila. It would take a couple of hours after
landing at Clark to get into the city itself, and I'm not sure that
AirAsia are providing any ground transportation for that. If they
don't, then finding another means of transport to get to Manila from
Clark airport would not be so easy.

Chris


You are wrong. It is easy to get to Manila from Clark. Buses run
all the time. If you are not up for riding the bus you can hire a
private car.

Since I wrote that, AirAsia have announced they will run a shuttle bus
between Clark and Megamall in Manila to coincide with
departing/arriving flights. That's definitely essential if these
flights are going to be successful..

The public buses go as far as Dau, but then you need to get from there
onto Clark airport itself, which is a fairly remote location. The
local public transportation from Dau bus terminal is just tricycles
and jeepneys. The airport comprises of not much more than a few
hangars in the middle of a huge empty field. It doesn't have any of
the passenger and transport facilities that you normally associate
with an international airport.

It remains to be seen how popular these flights into Clark are going
to be. I have my doubts, not least because with the way Manila traffic
can be its going to add at least 2 or 3 hours traveling time compared
to taking a flight from NAIA.

Chris

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 18:39:21 -0600, Group Group@ wrote:

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 16:18:03 +0800, Chris Blunt
wrote:

On 19 Mar 2005 07:50:48 -0800, "aseanair" wrote:

another of AirAsia's newest international destinations
MANILA (CLARK), PHILIPPINES
8,888 seats from only RM 119.99/PHP 1,799
only at http://www.airasia.com

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM129.99 / PHP1,949

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM119.99 / PHP1,799

Anyone hoping to get to Manila this way should be aware that Clark is
about 80kms north of Manila. It would take a couple of hours after
landing at Clark to get into the city itself, and I'm not sure that
AirAsia are providing any ground transportation for that. If they
don't, then finding another means of transport to get to Manila from
Clark airport would not be so easy.

Chris


You are wrong. It is easy to get to Manila from Clark. Buses run
all the time. If you are not up for riding the bus you can hire a
private car.

Since I wrote that, AirAsia have announced they will run a shuttle bus
between Clark and Megamall in Manila to coincide with
departing/arriving flights. That's definitely essential if these
flights are going to be successful..

The public buses go as far as Dau, but then you need to get from there
onto Clark airport itself, which is a fairly remote location. The
local public transportation from Dau bus terminal is just tricycles
and jeepneys. The airport comprises of not much more than a few
hangars in the middle of a huge empty field. It doesn't have any of
the passenger and transport facilities that you normally associate
with an international airport.

It remains to be seen how popular these flights into Clark are going
to be. I have my doubts, not least because with the way Manila traffic
can be its going to add at least 2 or 3 hours traveling time compared
to taking a flight from NAIA.

Chris

Chris Blunt wrote:
It remains to be seen how popular these flights into Clark are going
to be. I have my doubts, not least because with the way Manila traffic
can be its going to add at least 2 or 3 hours traveling time compared
to taking a flight from NAIA.

The reason they're going to be popular, I think, is because of all the
Filipino laborers in Malaysia. If their employers can save $200 getting them
over, they're going to jump all over that.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 36 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Jordan, Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Israel

aseanair wrote:
another of AirAsia's newest international destinations
MANILA (CLARK), PHILIPPINES
8,888 seats from only RM 119.99/PHP 1,799
only at http://www.airasia.com

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM129.99 / PHP1,949

Manila (Clark) Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, Clark
Depart from/to Terminal 2, Kota Kinabalu Airport

Booking Period : Book Now!
Travel Period : 5 Apr - 29 Oct 2005
Fare : from RM119.99 / PHP1,799

A bit off-topic, but Virgin Blue/Pacific of Australia has also been
reported to be interested in mounting flights between Australia and
Clark in the Philippines ( my guess would be via Darwin)

Remember that Metro Manila is a large area.
For Quezon City (the seat of government, and actually with a larger
population than any of the other cities in Metro Manila) Clark would be
a far more convenient airport than NAIA. Not to mention people heading
for Northern Luzon (thousand islands, Cordillera) who might well
appreciate being able to bypass the traffic and hassles of Manila.

Personally, I think these flights have great potential.