DOTr: No final airport assignments yet

Planes wait for passengers at the Manila International Airport. INQUIRER FILE

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) denied on Monday the reports on the new airline assignments at the Ninoy Aquino International Airports (NAIA), saying that the decision is “not yet final.”

The DOTr said that despite the circulation of reports that there were new airline assignments on the four terminals of NAIA, the department said that it had yet to be finalized.

“The Department of Transportation wishes to advise the public that reports circulating online and via traditional media on supposed new airline assignments at the NAIA are NOT YET FINAL,” the management said in an advisory.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal also confirmed that there were discussions on the flights relocation plan.

However, he said that there was still no “concrete decision” regarding the new flight scheme.

The DOTr added that an official announcement would be made once the department arrived at a decision.

Based on one relocation plan, NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 will be exclusive for international flights while NAIA Terminals 2 and 4 will be for domestic flights.

If the plan is implemented, five airlines – Philippine Airlines, Etihad Airways, Saudia Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Thai Airlines – would occupy Terminal 1 while 19 other international airlines would be relocated to Terminal 3.

Authorities reportedly aim to implement new airline assignments starting August 31, 2018. /cbb