Before imposing a terminal fee increase, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) should first focus on passenger services, Sen. Grace Poe said on Thursday.
Poe, citing the Naia mishap involving a Xiamen airline jet last August, said fees must first reflect the quality of services that passengers get from the agencies.
“‘Terminal Fee’ is the popular term for ‘Passenger Service Charge.’ I take it that the most important words are ‘passenger’ and ‘service.’ Before focusing on the ‘charge’ part, maybe it is best for MIAA and NAIA to first focus on ‘passenger service,’ Poe said in a statement.
Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, said Naia personnel was not able to deliver their service well when the Xiamen incident happened as the sound system was faulty and no one could provide passengers their boarding times and boarding gates.
“Sabi nga ng mga stranded na pasaherong tumestigo sa ating pagdinig, ni hindi raw gumana ang sound system ng NAIA nang maayos, wala man lamang makapagsabi sa kanila kung ano ang boarding time at saan ang boarding gate nila noong mga panahon na iyon,” Poe said.
READ: Dozens of flights affected as plane skids off rain-soaked Naia runway
READ: Xiamen Air jet stuck at NAIA runway; flights canceled, diverted
Poe also asserted that public consultations must be conducted first as about 42 million people would be affected by the fare hike.
“There should also be real public consultations because of the sheer number of people–42 million–who will be affected,” the senator said.
“Another reason why the holding of public hearings is a must is the recent imposition of fuel charges on Filipino air travelers. There are multiple taxes and fees embedded in a ticket, including travel tax,” she added.
On Wednesday, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said terminal fees for both local and international flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) will be raised in April 2019.
The agency planned a P200 hike for international flights, making it P750 from P550, and a P100 increase for local flights, making it P300 from P200.
Monreal said the increase in fees is necessary to sustain the improvements of airports in the country.
He added that the raise on terminal fees will contribute at least one percent to the gross income of Naia.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), however, remain exempted from paying terminal fees, Monreal said. /muf
READ: Naia to raise terminal fees in April 2019