New round of Naia terminal reassignments set
With the imminent construction of a new passenger hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), a terminal reassignment will be implemented to ensure efficient operations at the country’s primary gateway, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
MIAA General Manager Eric Ines told reporters last week that Naia Terminal 1 will accommodate international flights being serviced by low-cost airlines.
Terminal 3, on the other hand, will handle the international flights by the “bigger carriers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Terminal 2 and Terminal 5—which is yet to start construction—will service domestic flights.
MIAA has not provided the exact date, however, when the reassignments will take effect.
At present, Naia Terminal 1 is for international flights while Terminal 2 is for domestic operations. Terminal 3 accommodates both local and international flights.
New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC) started rehabilitating Terminal 4, the oldest among Naia’s hubs, late last year but it stopped because it was deemed a “big hazard.”
Ines said they were hoping to build the fifth terminal this year.
The passenger hub, which will have an annual capacity of 35 million guests, will rise at the abandoned Philippine Village Hotel.
Demolition works have commenced.
Building a new terminal is in line with NNIC’s mandate of expanding the gateway’s passenger capacity.
It has started managing and maintaining Naia since it was turned over in September last year.
Within the first three to 12 months of the San Miguel-led group’s takeover, it was tasked with installing new toilets and refurbishing existing comfort rooms; increasing seating capacity; installing more air-conditioning units; and enabling reliable high-speed internet.
Other plans in the short term include improved retail and food and beverage experience; power redundancy; repair of existing walkalators, escalators and elevators; upgrading of X-ray machines; and road expansion to the terminals.
As for baggage handling, the group acquired a new and advanced system to avoid future disruptions. To recall, the baggage handling system malfunctioned last year, leaving over 800 pieces of luggage stranded at Terminal 3.
NNIC also reported that it had freed up about 1,800 parking slots after implementing higher parking rates at the airport.
Last year, Naia registered a record-breaking passenger volume, signaling a sustained momentum for travel.
The airport saw its passenger traffic grow by 10.43 percent to 50.1 million last year, which is markedly higher than the 35-million annual capacity.
