First Naia shuttle bus service provider a Lina firm

A freight and cargo forwarding firm under the Lina Group of Companies of Customs Commissioner Bert Lina will soon operate the first premium airport shuttle bus service, ferrying passengers to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), AirFreight 2100 Inc. has been accredited as the first airport bus service provider for two routes: from Naia Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to the Roxas Boulevard area, including the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and Entertainment City in Parañaque, and from Naia to the Makati Central Business District.

“We will instruct AirFreight to submit [the] necessary documents for the issuance of the certificate of public convenience [transport franchise],” LTFRB executive director Roberto Cabrera told reporters on Monday.

He said the company must deploy half of the required 44 airport shuttle buses within six months.

Compared to regular buses, the airport shuttle service will be more spacious, with seating limited to just 24 passengers and enough room for their luggage. These will also be equipped with Wifi and security cameras.

Cabrera said that each route would have no more than five designated off-street drop-off points to ensure speedier travel time for passengers. The buses, however, can pick up passengers only at the airport terminals.

In its first year, the premium shuttle bus service, which will charge a fare of P300, is targeted to run daily from 4 a.m. to midnight. There will be a 30-minute interval between buses, Cabrera added.

AirFreight 2100 Inc. was previously known as logistics firm Air21 under the Lina Group of Companies founded by Lina. Cabrera said that based on the Securities and Exchange Commission certificate submitted by the firm, the customs commissioner is now listed as an incorporator.

He added that the firm was the only one that met the LTFRB’s requirements, including a capital of P420 million.

Bus firms JAM Liner Inc. and Froehlich Tours Inc. also applied for accreditation but were turned away for lack of documents.

“However, there’s still a possibility for them to join the next phase of the airport bus services. The next phase will be for the Naia-Bonifacio Global City route. In a couple of weeks or months, we will start the accreditation process for that,” Cabrera said.