NNIC reports improvements at NAIA

Naia Terminal 1. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA – Two months after the takeover of operations and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) reported on Friday the improvements made to the gateway so far.

“Right now, our emphasis is on ensuring that all facilities and equipment work reliably. At the same time, we’re working to address congestion and improve operational efficiencies, while laying the groundwork for major construction works,” NNIC President Ramon Ang said in a statement.

This month, the NNIC has started the renovation of Terminal 4, the oldest among the four terminals. Renovation is expected to be completed in February 2025.

The group has procured an explosive detection system, and installation is slated in the first quarter of 2025.

To recall, the increased parking rates at NAIA have become viral on social media. Despite this, the NNIC reported that about 1,800 parking slots were freed up, accommodating around 140,000 people daily.

Traffic congestions is also being addressed through the expansion of arrival curbsides of the four terminals.

The curbside at Terminal 1 will be widened from 3 to 8 lanes, from 4 to 8 lanes at Terminal 2, and from 8 to 12 lanes at Terminal 3.

Expansion of roads and the addition of new toll exits from the NAIA Expressway are ongoing, according to the NNIC.

To ensure a reliable power supply, the San Miguel Corp.-led consortium has partnered with Meralco to install a 115KV dedicated substation for NAIA to enhance the airport’s electrical distribution system.

The group has also partnered with Mserv to install a 6.12 MW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system for Terminal 3 to provide backup power to essential systems, including airfield lighting.

Internet connectivity was enhanced through PLDT/Smart and Converge, enabling 50 to 60 Mbps average speeds and up to 115 Mbps peak speeds. The free connection is good for three hours.

“There is no magic wand to fix all of NAIA’s problems quickly. We cannot solve, in a matter of months, issues that have existed or built up over many decades,” Ang said.

Meanwhile, to ease passenger congestion, the NNIC said the implementation of a “fly-to-gate” biometric passenger processing system is underway. (PNA)