E-commerce drives Clark Airport cargo city expansion as UPS eyes October opening

The 30-hectare cargo city at Clark International Airport is set to house global logistics firms UPS and FedEx as cargo traffic continues to grow.

E-commerce is driving demand for stronger logistics infrastructure, with aviation hubs expanding cargo facilities to keep pace with rising freight volumes.

At Clark Freeport Zone, airport operator Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD) is developing a 30-hectare cargo city as part of its Clark AeroDistrict, envisioned as the country’s first world-class airport city.

The cargo city will house facilities for global logistics firms FedEx and UPS. UPS is targeting the opening of its facility by October, while FedEx is expected to begin operations at its Central Luzon hub by mid-2028. LIPAD also plans to bring in more cargo operators to support the country’s growing logistics sector.

“‘Yung mga freighters from Manila, especially for e-commerce, nagla-land sa Clark. There really is now justification to develop the cargo facility,” LIPAD chief executive officer Noel Manankil said during a July 14 briefing.

The expansion comes as Clark International Airport continues to handle more cargo traffic. From January to June 2026, the airport recorded 756 cargo flights, up 31% from a year earlier, while cargo volume reached 9,045 tons, a 9% increase from the same period in 2025.