AC Logistics, the logistics arm of the Ayala Corp. focusing on building a comprehensive, end-to-end logistics ecosystem in the Philippines, is expanding its warehouse facility at NAIA under its Cargo Haus product to address growing demand for international air cargo terminal capacity at the country’s premier gateway and to support the Philippines’ export-import sector.
Erry Hardianto, AC Logistics President and CEO, said the company is leasing an 18,000-square-meter warehouse at NAIA to augment its Cargo Haus capacity. The facility, however, has yet to be operationalized pending access to the ramp.
The investment, he said, aims to inject new capacity and help decongest Manila’s air cargo traffic.
AC Logistics currently operates in four major international airports—Cebu, Davao, and Clark—alongside Manila. However, Hardianto emphasized that, “I think the real opportunity is in Manila where we are very close to 100 percent capacity.” The company also has a presence in 12 domestic airports.
“Through that infrastructure, we are supporting exports-imports of the country,” he said.
Transshipment hub
In addition, Hardianto also batted for the development of the Philippines as a transshipment hub for air cargo.
He noted that while congestion issues in seaports often dominate discussions, air cargo productivity receives far less attention. Believing the Philippines has huge opportunity as air cargo hub citing the country’s strategic location, the logistics expert urged that more attention should be given to international cargo facilities.
“Philippines has a lot of potential. It’s going to become the center of gravity for Southeast Asia when it comes to air cargo traffic,” he said, noting that airports in China are already operating at near-full capacity.
“If you look at the Philippines, it is strategically located,” he said, explaining that the country’s position in the northern part of Southeast Asia allows it to serve as a transshipment hub for cargo bound east to North America and west to Europe.
“We are most strategically located than Singapore in this respect, because Singapore is very close to Ecuador,” he added, noting that routes to North America and Europe can be more convenient and faster compared to Indonesia, Singapore, or Bangkok.
Hardianto also highlighted the growing importance of air cargo for time-sensitive shipments, or what the industry refers to as “accidental cargo,” such as pharmaceuticals and agricultural produce.
Traditionally, goods have been shipped by sea through containerized or bulk cargo. However, he said that the rise of e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Tao-bao, and Amazon Prime have shifted logistics toward direct business-to-consumer (B2C) deliveries instead of business-to-business (B2B) shipments. This shift requires faster cargo clearance.
He added that as China faces capacity constraints in air freight, shipments are increasingly being routed through alternative hubs.
“This is where the opportunity for the Philippines to play roles because there’s plenty of flight going from China. They can basically bring this cargo to Manila, or to Clark .. on the passenger plane, which we have a lot,” he said, citing several Middle Eastern airlines, such as Emirates, flying frequently to Manila and Clark and distribute the cargoes to the U.S. and Europe.
“This means more revenue for the country,” he said.
Hardianto noted that AC Logistics is not alone in recognizing these opportunities, as other logistics providers are also expanding. He cited the ongoing expansion of FedEx and UPS in Clark.
With more airlines increasing their operations, he added, the cargo segment is poised for further growth.
