Clark Air Field was used as a strategic overseas base by both the United States and Japan during World War II.

[15] On April 28, 1994, an executive order was signed by former President Fidel Ramos that designated Clark as the Clark Special Economic Zone as the future site of a premier international airport, aiming to attract economic and tourism activities to Central Luzon and relieve congestion in Metro Manila.

This move was part of the Philippine government's broader strategy to enhance the country's airport infrastructure and alleviate congestion at NAIA.

This development was intended to support regional economic growth and provide a viable alternative to NAIA for international and domestic flights.

[3] On April 4, 2003, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo renamed the airport to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), in memory of her father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, and ordered the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) in February 2007 to fund the US$1.7 billion (₱76.5 billion) expansion of DMIA and the approval of a US$2 million (₱90 million) study plan financed by the Korean International Cooperation Agency.

[20] In 2011, CIAC was transferred from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and became an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) by virtue of Executive Order No.

14, reverting CIAC as a subsidiary of the BCDA, but with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) maintaining supervision and operational control of the airport.

[25] The project involves the operations and maintenance of the existing and the proposed new passenger terminal buildings on the airport with a 25-year concession period.

[27] On August 16, Clark International Airport's operations and maintenance were officially handed over to the winning bid (now renamed as Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corporation in a ceremony held at the new terminal building along with the unveiling of its new logo.

The airport site is inside the Clark Freeport Zone's Civil Aviation Complex which occupies 2,367 hectares (5,850 acres) and directly linked to the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) which is connected to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) providing a direct link to Metro Manila.

The expansion project was inaugurated by President Arroyo in April 2008 to serve the growing passenger volume due to the entry of foreign and local budget carriers at the airport.

[40] In 2020, the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) announced plans to construct the tallest air traffic control tower in the Philippines which will stand around 54 meters (177 ft) in height.

[43] However, the project is only 61 percent complete as of December 2023 due to design issues and pending approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Clark Development Corporation.

[44] On March 12, 2024, Elmar Lutter, Lufthansa Technik Philippines President announced the groundbreaking project of the P8.4-billion ($150 million) hangar facility at Clark International Airport.

Its planned second hangar was unveiled during the Philippine officials' Berlin, Germany visit, led by President Bongbong Marcos and Alfredo E.

Passengers with connecting flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila can either pay a toll to use Skyway, from North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), to NAIA Expressway connecting NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 since December 29, 2020 or take NLEX which is linked via SCTEX, then passing through Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Balintawak, Quezon City to Roxas Boulevard in Pasay, Roxas Boulevard from EDSA to the northern terminus of Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) in Parañaque, and finally onto NAIA Road.

From Dau, passengers can ride intercity buses leading to other cities and towns in Northern and Central Luzon as well as Metro Manila.

Direct Premium Point-to-Point Bus Services (P2Ps) for long-distance routes are provided by four bus companies leading to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, TriNoma, and Robinsons Galleria in Metro Manila, Subic and Olongapo in Zambales, Dagupan in Pangasinan, and Vigan in Ilocos Sur.