Naia gearing up for Holy Week travel rush
Passengers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, as the international gateway prepares for the surge of travelers during the Holy Week. (Photo by ZEUS LEGASPI / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines—The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) is gearing up for the Lenten season travel rush.
In a message to Inquirer.net on Wednesday, Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) Spokesperson Chris Bendijo said that airport authorities are preparing for an influx of passengers that may topple last year’s record of 1.2 million air travelers during the Holy Week.
“We are expecting passenger traffic at the highs of 160k to 180k per day. [This is] an increase to 1.7 million to 1.8 million over the ten-day stretch as compared to 1.2 million last year,” he said.
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According to Bendijo, Miaa is coordinating with the Philippine National Police – Aviation Security Group, Pasay and Parañaque local government units, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and movement of passengers.
They are also working closely with in-terminal government agencies, including the Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Customs, the airport official said.
To ensure that passengers are attended to, Bendijo told Inquirer.net that the Miaa Management Group will designate “key officials” to manage and assist help desks in each of Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (Naia) three terminals.
A “no leave” policy will also be implemented among the members of the management group to help augment manpower during the peak season.
To make sure that no power outage would disrupt Naia’s operations, Bendijo said that they have already conducted preventive maintenance of the airport’s power lines and inspected its backup generators.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has also said that it has prepared its 44 airports across the country for the surge of air travelers during the Holy Week.
