Long-awaited Naia rehab kicks off next week, finally

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

This just may be the year the Philippines’ premier airport is dropped from the world’s worst list.

The long-awaited rehabilitation of the 30-year-old Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) begins next week, according to Jose Angel Honrado, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Honrado said the retrofitting program will start on Jan. 16 with the pullout of the arrival lobby escalator that leads to the departure level above.

“This will create space in the area for more passenger movement,” said Honrado, who added that the refurbishing would take up to a year and a half to complete.

He said there were also plans to move the banks and Duty Free shops from the arrival lobby and customs area to provide more space for arriving passengers.

A part of the more than P1 billion earmarked by the national government for the rehabilitation would go toward the repair of the toilets around the terminal, Honrado said.

Dubbed as the worst

The sorry state of its toilets, among other things, earned for Naia the dubious tag of being the world’s worst airport in a recent online poll.

More immigration counters would be added in the arrival area to process more passengers, especially during peak times, Honrado said.

He said a couple of inclined “walk-a-lators” —moving walkways—would be installed in the arrival area to allow passengers with baggage carts easier movement to the arrival extension area.

Part of the long-term plan, however, is to move some of the airlines from Terminal 1 to the newer Terminal 3, Honrado said.

“Naia 1 was originally designed for 4.5 million passengers per year, but now it services around 7.3 million passengers,”  Honrado said. “On the other hand, Terminal 3, which has a capacity of 13 million international passengers, is under [utilized].”

New security equipment Apart from improvements to the building, Honrado said the MIAA would procure new security equipment.

“Included in the security equipment to be purchased are shoe scanners so passengers need not remove their shoes for inspection; state-of-the-art scanning and X-ray machines to shorten the time passengers spend at the initial security check at the entrance; and more closed circuit television cameras to be installed all over the airport, including the parking lots and perimeter fence,” Honrado said.

Runway repairs have also been started.

“This project is in keeping with our mandate to ensure safe travel through safe landings and takeoffs on Naia’s runway facilities,” Honrado said.