Government plan to decongest Naia runway gains support

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas

The government’s plan to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) runway will not only benefit tourism and trade, but will also generate jobs and economic development in the countryside, according to air carrier Cebu Pacific, which expressed support for the proposal.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas earlier bared plans to build a rapid-exit taxiway that would allow landing aircraft to immediately leave the runways, allowing more aircrafts to land and take-off.

If the plan pushes through, aircraft landing and takeoff at the Naia runways will rise from 45 to 60 per hour, Roxas added.

At present, actual aircraft landing and takeoff at Naia is estimated at 45 movements per hour for commercial airlines. Private aircraft also compete for the use of the runway.

“The proposal will go a long way in decongesting Naia and Cebu Pacific fully supports this initiative,” the company said in a statement.

More flights

Cebu Pacific added that through Roxas’ plan, aircraft can take off much quicker after landing.

“Both the airlines and the public would benefit since more flights could be scheduled, giving the flying public more flights to choose from,” the company said.

The air carrier also expressed support for various other measures, including the transfer of aviation schools and general aviation aircraft; the implementation of airport slotting; and the upgrading of key airports outside Manila to allow night flights.

According to CEB, aviation schools and general aviation aircraft currently use much of the airport’s capacity.

“Corporate jets, for instance, carry one passenger, if at all, as compared to hundreds on a commercial plane, and yet use up 17 percent of Naia’s capacity annually,” CEB said, adding that the three-year period for their transfer should be shortened.

The implementation of airport slotting (the specific time allotted an airline to take off and land) will also ease congestion and maximize airport use and aircraft movements, the airline company said.

The installation of night-flight capability equipment in provincial airports, meanwhile, would mean that airlines need not cram their schedules during the day, and therefore help prevent Naia congestion, CEB added.

“Caticlan, for instance, cannot host flights after  sunset. The same with Naga, Legazpi, and Butuan, CEB said. This would allow passengers to choose their time of travel and not be limited to day flights,” CEB explained.