MIAA sees pre-pandemic domestic flight volume by Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines — Domestic flights during the coming Holy Week may reach  pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Friday.

“Parang nakikita ko mag-aaverage tayo almost the same, during the Holy Week, almost the same as the pre-pandemic level. Domestic travel lang ‘yan. ‘Yun po ang demand,” MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(I expect that the average number of flights during the Holy Week will match pre-pandemic levels.  That’s just for domestic travel. That is the demand.)

“In terms of domestic travel, hindi pa tayo umaabot sa (we have not reached) pre-pandemic level figures but medyo malapit na po tayo (but we are nearing it). We are about 80-percent level of the pre-pandemic figures in relation to domestic travel,” he said.

He added that inbound international flight passengers have also been increasing, from the previous 1,000 to 5,000 per day to  10,000 to 15,000 daily.

“Bagama’t ganoon po ang nangyayari, gusto ko lang pong i-emphasize na hindi pa po tayo nakakaalis sa pandemya kaya kailangan po talaga ang kaunting pag-iingat lalo na itong pagbyahe po natin sa domestic destinations. Kailangang sundin ang lahat ng health protocols,” he added.

(Despite this, I just want to emphasize that the there is still a pandemic. That’s why the public still needs to be careful when traveling, especially to domestic destinations. All health protocols must be followed.)

Monreal likewise assured that the MIAA is prepared for the influx of travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport during the Holy Week.

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