DOTr chief: Naia expects 138K daily passengers for 2023 Christmas rush
FILE PHOTO: Ninoy Aquino International Airport. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said they are expecting at least 138,000 passengers daily at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for the Christmas season this year.
At the launch of free fiber Wi-Fi at Naia Terminal 3 on Tuesday, Bautista said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) patterned their Christmas season preparatory measures from the scheme they used during “Undas” and the Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan Elections to deal with the expected influx of travelers.
“Noong Undas, elections na ‘yan, we really prepared for a bigger number of passengers. Ngayon nasa 130,000 passengers tayo per day – increase ng another 8,000 [passengers] dito sa Naia [para sa Christmas season],” he told reporters.
(During the Undas, elections, we really prepared for a bigger number of passengers. Now we are at 130,000 passengers per day – increase it by another 8,000 [passengers] here at Naia [for the Christmas season].)
“Marami na ‘yung 140,000 passengers per day,” he added.
(The 140,000 passengers per day is already a lot.)
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Bautista reiterated his advice to passengers to refrain from making last-minute flight bookings and to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure to avoid inconvenience.
On Tuesday, Bautista led the unveiling of free fiber Wi-Fi at Naia Terminal 3 as part of an internet service provider’s free broadband program that was first launched at Naia Terminal 4 last July 4.
“This new dimension of connectivity will be much appreciated by the hundreds of passengers, allowing the airport to go a notch higher in global standards,” Bautista said.
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“I hope this will signal the start of other collaborations to improve the service of airports, seaports, bus terminals, and rail systems,” he added.
Bautista disclosed that free fiber Wi–Fi will be launched at Naia Terminals 1 and 2 in the coming months.
Last year, DOTr and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. signed an agreement to provide free Wi–Fi services in the passenger terminals of nine international and domestic airports nationwide.
