Your Ultimate Guide To Clark Airport Travel: 5 Things You Need To Know

The Clark Airport (CRK) is a great alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) busy terminals and congested runways.

The CRK is fast gaining more popularity among wise travelers primarily because of its cheaper airfares compared to airports in Manila. And it’s not even as far as you might think from the metro.

Flights from destinations such as Batanes and Siargao, which are usually at over P10,000 roundtrip, can be at half the price when you book via Clark. There are also international flights you can get on the cheap when you fly out from CRK.

But before you get too excited about discounted flights, here are some things to expect when flying from Clark Airport.

1. Clark has less airport facilities

Everyone who’s been at the Clark Airport always talks about how it’s not as busy compared to NAIA. Unlike these Manila airports though, passengers are not allowed to sleep or even stay inside the terminal.

There is, however, a small area outside the lobby with seats, stores, and a coffee machine where people can stay and kill time. If you have some extra budget, you can also book hotels near CRK.

Note that Clark airport charges P150 domestic terminal fee and a P600 international terminal fee. It’s not like NAIA where some airlines already charge the terminal fee upon booking.

If you need last-minute currency exchange, there’s a Forex Counter inside the airport, by the Check-in area.

2. Clark also has international travel tax

If you happened to book with an airline that did not include the Travel Tax Fees, take note of these rates you might need to prepare and pay for at CRK:

Description                 First Class Economy Class
Full Rate P2,700 P1,620
Standard Reduced Rate P1,350 P810
Privileged Reduced Rate for Overseas Filipino Worker’s (OFWs) dependents P400 P300
Processing Fee per Certificate P200 P200

(Read: No More Travel Tax? TIEZA Chief Pushes For A P500 Tourist Fee Instead)

3. Clark has parking areas that you need to pay for

Parking fees are at P30 per hour, and Park and Fly is at P90 per day.

4. There are various ways to commute to Clark

Getting to the Clark Airport (CRK) also known as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is now easier, with all the available transport buses and P2P. Those who live outside of the Metro also have P2P buses in major routes.

A Metro Manila to Clark, Pampanga commute usually takes two (2) hours.

Always allot around five to six hours of travel time and preparations before your CRK flight. And of course, complete your online check in to avoid the hassle of long queues once you get to CRK. The online check-in also favors those who do not have check-in bags. So, travel light whenever you can.

Tip: While you can take normal buses and get dropped off at Clark city proper, you will need to shell out an additional will force you to shell out P500 for a taxi fare to CRK. There is no public transportation from the city proper to Clark Airport.

(Read:  UBE Express P2P Bus Guide: Travel From The Airport To Almost Anywhere In Manila With This Cheat Sheet)

Below are the transport schedules as lifted off the Clark Airport website, Shuttle Bus and Services page:

Clark Airport Lounge, Trinoma Mall, Quezon City

Where to catch the bus: The lounge is near the MRT North Station, and is open 24/7. It’s complete with a waiting area, luggage counter, and flight status and updates.

Bus fare: P250 each way.

When to catch the bus:

From Trinoma to CRK From CRK to Trinoma
03:00 AM 04:30 AM
07:00 AM 12:30 PM
01:00 PM 07:00 PM

Point-to-Point (P2P) Buses, including trips to NAIA

Where to catch the bus:

  • Genesis Bus
NAIA 3 Bay 14, Arrivals
NAIA 2 Bay 20, Arrivals
NAIA 1 Curbside, Departures
Resorts World Manila Bus Stop is near the valet counter, beside the casino’s entrance
Robinsons Galleria EDSA side driveway
Trinoma P2P Terminal along EDSA, near the MRT North Avenue Station
  • Victory Liner
Pick-up and Drop-off Points: Clark to Subic,  Subic to Clark Clark to Dagupan, Dagupan to Clark
Clark Airport Clark Airport
SM Clark SM Clark
San Fernando SM Carmen
Layac, Dinalupihan Urdaneta
Harbor Point

Bus Fare:

  •   For Genesis

Ordinary Bus from Clark To NAIA 3 (and vice versa)

Clark to NAIA 3 Clark To Ortigas SM City Clark To NAIA 3 SM City Clark To Ortigas
P 350 P 250 P 350 P 200

Ordinary Bus from Clark to North EDSA MRT Station/Trinoma (and vice versa)

Clark to North EDSA MRT Station/Trinoma SM City Clark To North EDSA MRT Station/Trinoma
P 250 P 200

Joybus Deluxe

From Clark to NAIA 3 (and vice versa) P 400
From Clark to NAIA 1 and 2 (and vice versao) P 450
  • Victory Liner

P2P Subic — Clark Bus Service:

Fare from Clark to San Fernando, Layac, Dinalupihan

P180

Fare from Clark to Olongapo P260
Fare from Subic to Layac, SFDO P180
Fare from Subic to Clark P260

P2P Dagupan — Clark Bus Service:

Fare from Clark to Carmen P270
Fare from Clark to Urdaneta P315
Fare from Clark to Dagupan, and vice versa P405

When to catch the bus:

  • Genesis Bus

Manila to Clark

NAIA 3 to Clark via Resorts World Manila/Robinsons Galleria/Ortigas/SM Clark Robinsons Galleria to Clark Trinoma to Clark
4:00 AM 4:45 AM 4:00 AM
6:00 AM 6:45 SM 5:00 AM
7:00 AM 7:45 AM 6:00 AM
8:30 AM 9:30 AM 7:00 AM
9:30 AM 10:30 AM 8:00 AM
11:00 AM 12:00 PM 10:00 AM
12:00 PM 1:00 PM 12:00 PM
1:00 PM 2:00 PM 1:00 PM
2:00 PM 3:00 PM 2:00 PM
3:00 PM 4:00 PM 3:00 PM
4:00 PM 5:00 PM 4:00 PM
5:00 PM 6:00 PM 5:00 PM
6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM
7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM
8:00 PM 9:00 PM 11:00 PM
9:30 PM 10:00 PM
11:00 PM
12:30 AM

Clark to Manila

Clark To NAIA 3 via Ortigas & Resorts World Clark to Trinoma
11:00 PM 4:30 AM
1:30 AM 5:30 AM
2:30 AM 6:30 AM
4:00 AM 7:30 AM
6:00 AM 9:30 AM
7:00 AM 10:30 AM
8:30 AM 12:00/12:30 pm
10:00 AM 1:30 PM
11:00 AM 2:30 PM
12:00 PM 3:30 PM
1:00 PM 4:30 PM
2:00 PM 5:30 PM
3:00 PM 6:30 PM
4:00 PM 8:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:30 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
  • Victory Liner

Subic P2P Schedule:

From Clark to Subic

Via San Fernando, Layac, Dinalupihan, SCTEX Palihan

From Subic to Clark

Via SCTEX Palihan, Layac, Dinalupihan, San Fernando

1:00 AM 1:00 AM
2:00 AM 4:00 AM
4:00 AM 5:00 AM
6:00 AM 6:00 AM
8:00 AM 7:00 AM
10:00 AM 9:00 AM
2:00 PM 11:00 AM
4:00 PM 1:00 PM
5:00 PM 3:00 PM
6:00 PM 5:00 PM
7:00 PM 6:00 PM
8:30 PM 7:00 PM

Dagupan P2P Schedule:

From Clark to Dagupan

Via SCTEX / TPLEX / Carmen / Urdaneta

From Dagupan to Clark

Via Urdaneta / Carmen / TPLEX / SCTEX

2:30 AM 4:30 AM
5:30 AM 6:30 AM
8:30 AM 7:30 AM
10:30 AM 10:30 AM
2:30 PM 12:30 PM
4:30 PM 2:30 PM
5:30 PM 4:30 PM
8:30 PM 11:30 PM

Philtranco Bus

Where to catch the bus: Philtranco buses going to Clark can be caught at the Philtranco terminal in Pasay and the Clark Airport Lounge in Trinoma.

The Philtranco terminal is Pasay is located on EDSA corner Apelo Cruz Street. The Clark Airport Lounge is located on the ground floor of Trinoma between Mercury Drug and Medical City.

Bus fare: P350

When to catch the bus:

Pasay ETD Trinoma ETD
06:30 AM 08:30 AM
08:30 AM 10:30 AM
11:30 AM 03:30 PM
03:30 PM 05:30 PM
06:30 PM 08:30 PM
08:30 PM 10:30 PM

5. There are several airlines that fly from Clark Airport to destinations both here and abroad

See if you can get cheaper airfares via Clark for the destination/s you’ve been eyeing. Checkout this list:

Airline: Cebu Pacific
Destinations:

Cebu
Hong Kong
Macau
Singapore
Siargao
Airline: Philippine Airlines
Destinations: Cebu
Davao
Puerto Prinsesa
Incheon
Basco, Batanes
Siargao
Airline: Cebgo (formerly Tigerair)
Destinations: Caticlan
Busuanga
Airline: Qatar Airways
Destination: Doha
Airline: Emirates
Destination: United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Airline: Cathay Dragon
Destination: Hong Kong
Airline: Tigerair
Destinations: Hong Kong
Singapore
Airline: PAL Express
Destinations: Caticlan
Busuanga
Airline: Air Asia
Destinations: Davao
Kalibo
Airline: Wakay Air
Destination: Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya
Airline: Air Swift
Destination: El Nido
Airline: Jin Air
Destination: Busan

Source: Clark Airport FAQ, Clark Airport Shuttle Bus Guide