Palau starts tuna imports via DMIA

CLARK FREEPORT--The Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) has the capability of handling world-class cargo operations where the Pacific Flier started its regular flights via Clark.
“It only shows that to the cargo world that the airport (DMIA) can handle such kind of cargo operations and we have the capability to do this,” Asia Foundation director Captain Ben Solis said in an interview after the success of the Pacific Flier of shipping at least 15 tons of Tuna Fish via DMIA last May 27, 2010.
Solis said this is the start of cargo operations of Pacific Flier’s regular flights at DMIA every Thursday and Sunday that will ship in 15 to 20 tons of Tuna Fish from Koror in Palau which would be distributed to Metro Manila.
“This is an important element that DMIA can handle this kind of operations which makes it very accessible to Metro Manila because of the modern expressways which makes travel faster and convenient,” Solis added.
“The cargo world will recognize DMIA as an important part of their cargo operations in the Asia Pacific Region,” he said
Solis said DMIA is not only for commercial international and local flights, but also for the Shipping world to use the airport as their center for cargo operations.
“Clark is fully equipped to take this perishable items even transit them to Metro Manila and we have ground handlers to do this,” he said.
There are 50 to 60 tons of Tuna Fish available for shipment for Japan daily and transit them to other countries, Solis said.
DMIA is also host of international and local flights to destinations in the South East Asian Region being serviced by budget carriers operating out of Clark.
Solis express confidence that DMIA will continue to attract more international and local flights as well as cargo operations in the coming future, adding that the airport would be the next Premier International Gateway of the country.