CLARK—A series of chartered flights by China Southern Airlines will fly in thousands of tourists from mainland China in the next six months to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Freeport Zone.

Starting January 18, China Southern Airlines will start its twice-a-week Guangzhou-Clark chartered flights to the DMIA that will further boost the development of this civil-aviation complex.

The chartered flights will initially be conducted for six months and arrive Fridays and Sundays and use Boeing 737 aircraft with a capacity of 166 seats.

Clark International Airport Corp. (Ciac) president and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said the entry of the Chinese airline is a welcome development for DMIA.

“We are happy that Fontana has taken this initiative and we give them our full support. This initiates China flights to Clark that will be a big boost to the development because of the potential of having Chinese tourists and businessmen come to our region to invest,” Luciano said.

Luciano vowed to support the efforts of China Southern Airlines to mount regular flights to the Clark airport.

“We should definitely prepare the infrastructure for Clark now to keep the momentum and build and expand the airport in preparation for the influx of tourists,” Luciano said.

Ciac is preparing a grand welcome for the inaugural flight, which is expected to bring in the first batch of 166 passengers at 7 p.m. today, Friday.

Luciano will lead Ciac and Fontana officials in welcoming the arriving Chinese passengers in simple ceremonies at the DMIA arrival terminal.

Norman Ng, managing director of the Jimei Group in the Philippines, said the Boeing 737 leaves Guangzhou at about 5 p.m. every Friday and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Estimated time of arrival at Clark is 7 p.m. on Fridays and 4 p.m. on Sundays.

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CLARK—A series of chartered flights by China Southern Airlines will fly in thousands of tourists from mainland China in the next six months to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Freeport Zone.