By Henry Empeño | November 12, 2026
CLARK FREEPORT — Vietnamese carrier VietJet Air made its maiden flight to the Clark International Airport (CRK) here on Tuesday, November 10, making it the 17th passenger airline to establish a route to what is increasingly becoming a major gateway for Central and North Luzon.
The inaugural flight carried 130 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s financial center and its most populous metropolis. It was welcomed with a water salute—the traditional honor for aircraft on a new route—as it taxied from the runway to the CRK’s passenger terminal.
VietJet Air’s Vice President Do Xuan Quang and Commercial Deputy Director Thuy Xuan Dinh led the launch of the airline’s Clark-Ho Chi Minh route at the CRK.
Also in attendance were Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Joshua Bingcang, Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Agnes Devanadera, Tourism Region III Director Richard Daenos, and Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD Corp.) President and CEO Noel F. Manankil.
Vietjet Air officials said the airline will operate flights between Clark and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) three times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
The launch marked a significant milestone for VietJet Air, which has also started direct flights between Cebu and Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, where the private low-cost carrier is based.
The carrier also operates a vast network of more than 120 domestic and international routes throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including a direct route between Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.
BCDA’s Bingcang said that aside from giving passengers another travel option, VietJet’s arrival at CRK opens new opportunities for tourism, trade, and business, and fosters closer ties between Vietnam and the Philippines.
“For Central and Northern Luzon, this development is particularly significant as Clark International Airport continues to expand its international network and strengthen its position as a major gateway to the region,” Bingcang added.
VietJet’s Clark itinerary is also expected to further increase passenger traffic at CRK, which has posted steady growth in the past two years.
According to LIPAD Corp., which manages the airport, CRK served 2,753,101 passengers in 2025, an impressive 14 percent increase over the 2,404,888 total in 2024.
The airport operator also reported a 29 percent increase in flights to and from CRK in 2024, with domestic hops representing 47 percent of the total and international trips at 53 percent.
With VietJet Air in CRK, Clark currently has 17 carriers flying domestic, regional, and international routes to major destinations like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Dubai, Doha, and Ho Chi Minh City.
These are: Aero K, AirAsia, AirSWIFT, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, EVA Air, Hong Kong Express, Jeju Air, Jetstar Asia, Jin Air, Korean Air/Asiana Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Scoot, STARLUX Airlines, Sunlight Air, and Vietjet Air. ▲
COVER PHOTO: Firetrucks spray an arch of water over the arriving VietJet aircraft for the traditional maiden flight salute at the Clark International Airport on November 10 (CRK photo)
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