Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK), formerly the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), is currently the hub for budget international flights, yet it has been eyed to be the primary international gateway of the Philippines in the future.
However, there is an increase in the number of domestic flights operating in and out of the said airport, especially with Airphil Express and AirAsia Philippines making Clark their new hub. Also operating domestic routes are Cebu Pacific Air and SEAIR. Travelers may find taking a domestic flight from Clark too costly, but here is a tried-and-tested guide on how to commute to Clark International Airport the cheapest way from Metro Manila. Read more…
Photo credit: George Putong
GUIDE A: FROM NAIA TERMINALS 1-3 AND THE DOMESTIC TERMINAL (IATA: MNL)
From NAIA Terminals 1 or 2, take a bus to EDSA and alight at EDSA-Taft Rotonda (12 PHP). From NAIA Terminal 3, take a shuttle bus at the designated bay (20 PHP) or jeepney outside the terminal (8 PHP) to EDSA-Taft Rotonda. From the Domestic Terminal, take a bus (12 PHP) or a jeepney (8 PHP) to EDSA-Taft Rotonda. The landmark is Hotel Sogo.
From EDSA-Taft Rotonda, one may take an MRT to Cubao (12 PHP; proceed to Guide B) or North Avenue (15 PHP; proceed to Guide C) to take the buses from there. Alternatively, one can walk to the Victory Liner terminal near EDSA-Taft Rotonda and take a Dagupan bus that will stop over at Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga (140 PHP; proceed to Guide D).
View Map on Google Maps
GUIDE B: FROM CUBAO, QUEZON CITY
Get to EDSA-Cubao via MRT, LRT, or the many buses that pass by. Walk or alight onto one of the several bus terminals in the area, such as Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus Lines, and Five Star. Take a Dagupan bus to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga (130 PHP; proceed to Guide D).
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GUIDE C: FROM NORTH AVENUE, QUEZON CITY
Get to EDSA-North Avenue via MRT, jeepney, or bus. Get inside TriNoma, or use the footbridge from the MRT station. Go down to the provincial bus stop outside the ground floor of the mall.Take a Dagupan bus from bus companies, such as Victory Liner, Dagupan Bus Lines, and Five Star, to Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga (130 PHP; proceed to Guide D).
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GUIDE D: FROM DAU BUS TERMINAL, MABALACAT, PAMPANGA
Get outside the bus terminal and walk towards the nearby intersection, where the landmark is KFC. Take a jeepney to Clark Main Gate, and alight at Bayanihan Terminal near SM City Clark (8 PHP). From the Bayanihan Terminal, take a jeepney going inside the Clark Special Economic Zone, and ask the driver to drop you off at “terminal” (10 PHP). You will be dropped off outside the gate of the airport, and you can walk from there to the terminal.
View Map on Google Maps
GUIDE E: FROM CLARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO METRO MANILA
Jeepneys do not intentionally pass by the airport, so chances of catching one is slim. Hence, it is better to take an air-conditioned jeepney shuttle service to Dau Bus Terminal (50 PHP) then ride one of the several buses onwards to downtown Manila or Cubao (125-140 PHP).
APPROXIMATE TRAVEL TIMES
ROUTE MODE MINUTES (APPROXIMATE)
NAIA 1 or 2 to EDSA-Taft Rotonda bus 30-45 (expect heavy traffic)
NAIA 3 to EDSA-Taft Rotonda shuttle bus 15-20 (expect heavy traffic)
NAIA 3 to EDSA-Taft Rotonda jeepney 25-40 (expect heavy traffic)
Domestic Terminal to EDSA-Taft Rotonda jeepney 25-40 (expect heavy traffic)
EDSA-Taft Rotonda-Cubao MRT 25-35 (including wait times)
EDSA-Taft Rotonda-North Avenue MRT 25-35 (including wait times)
EDSA-Taft Rotonda-Dau Bus Terminal bus 90-120 (via NLEX)
EDSA-Cubao-Dau Bus Terminal bus 75-105 (via NLEX)
EDSA-North Avenue-Dau Bus Terminal bus 60-90 (via NLEX)
Dau Bus Terminal-Bayanihan Terminal jeepney 10-20
Bayanihan Terminal-Clark International jeepney 15-20
Clark International-Dau Bus Terminal shuttle jeepney 20-35
IMPORTANT NOTES
1. Budget per way ranges from less than 150 PHP to less than 200 PHP.
2. Allow a total of two to two and a half hours travel time to Clark International Airport. Always expect heavy traffic in all Metro Manila roads.
3. Due to the number of transfers, commuting would favor light packing.
4. Clark International Airport has a small terminal. For domestic flights, you may be there as late as one hour before your flight, as the boarding gate is near the check-in counters. For international flights, you may be there one and a half to two hours before your flight to allow time for travel tax payment and immigrations clearance.
5. For all flights, check-in counters open two hours and not three hours before the flight, while they usually close 45 minutes before the flight.
6. The airport opens two hours before the first departing flight that day.
7. Students get a 20% discount on weekday bus fares to Dau. An ID card is required.
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