CAB: 3 airlines seek to charge terminal enhancement fee

(PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata)

MANILA – An official of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said Tuesday at least three airlines have requested to charge a terminal enhancement fee from passengers, following the increases in fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a radio interview, CAB Deputy Executive Director Maria Elben Moro said they have been receiving such requests since August, as airlines anticipate the increase in aeronautical fees upon the privatization of NAIA beginning Sept. 14 this year.

“The terminal enhancement fee is part of the AO (Administrative Order) No. 1. The terminal enhancement fee covers the tacking fee, airport procedures, and handling of passengers,” Moro said.

The price range of terminal enhancement fee depends on the flight distance, but Moro said the cost would be less than P1,000.

“We are still studying the proposal. We would conduct public hearing and would seek the comments of consumer groups, airlines and the NNIC (New NAIA Infra Corp.),” she said.

Airline Operators Council chairperson Allan Nepomuceno, in another radio interview, said the rate for the landing and takeoff fees have increased by about 200 to 220 percent.

As the increase have been implemented since Oct. 1, Nepomuceno said such was not included in the airlines’ budget for 2024.

Moro affirmed that airlines have to recover their expenses and one way to do this is to pass some of the costs to the passengers.