Airport authorities defer plan for new airline assignments

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD REYES)

The plan for new airline assignments will not push through on August 31 due to “unforeseen operational constraints,” the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) said Monday.

Despite discussions between airport authorities and airline companies, Miaa general manager Ed Monreal said options for the airline transfer remain “exploratory in nature.”

“Contrary to what is now circulating in social media, the August 31, 2018 Terminal transfer of airline will not proceed as originally envisioned,” Monreal said in a statement.

“Discussions gave rise to unforeseen operational constraints that require longer time to resolve,” he added.

Monreal added that no plan for airline transfer will be implemented until further notice.

“We assure the air riding public that passenger safety, comfort and convenience are always our priority,” he said.

Last June 8, the Miaa submitted a letter to the Committee Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation citing the “operational constraints” of implementing new airline assignments.

According to the letter, one of the operational constraints of re-assigning all domestic flight to Terminal 2 will be the increase in passenger traffic to 60,000 per day from the prevailing 26,000.

The letter further noted the ongoing construction within the vicinity of Terminal 2 that may worsen road traffic situation in the area with the likely increase in passenger traffic due to the proposed airline terminal transfer.

“The forthcoming and much-needed rehabilitation of Terminal 2 will further limit the capacity of the Terminal to handle the exponential increase in passenger traffic if the program will be implemented prior all major construction works for rehabilitation,” the letter read.

The new airline assignments plan at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will reportedly include relocation of international flights to Terminal 1 and 3; and domestic flights to Terminal 2 and 4.

Five airlines – Philippine Airlines, Etihad Airways, Saudia Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Thai Airlines – will reportedly occupy Terminal 1 while 19 other international airlines will be relocated to Terminal 3.

The terminal transfers were supposed to take effect starting August 31, 2018. /kga