Airport to be cleared of abandoned aircraft

Abandoned aircraft not claimed or removed from the parking space at the general aviation area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport complex would be charged parking fees or towed away, the airport’s top official said Thursday.

Retired Major General Jose Angel Honrado, Manila International Airport Authority general manager, gave the owners of the airplanes 30 days to comply with the order.

He said the aircraft, some of which were in varying states of disrepair, posed a danger to airport operations, “apart from being an eyesore and a safety hazard.”

He said the MIAA would use the areas for its operational requirements.

Honrado said aircraft not claimed would be auctioned off.

He said aircraft owners would be charged P31.54 per square meter as parking fee per month.

Airport monitoring inspector Lloyd Villagante said, “Some of the aircraft are no longer flyable, while others are still waiting for buyers according to their owners.”

He said the owners were told as far back as October last year to remove their aircraft, but so far no one had complied.

He said notices were sent to the owners again last month with the grace period set to expire on September 10. Nancy C. Carvajal