September 9, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) backs the proposal to reshuffle airline assignments at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), even dangling the idea of designating Terminal 3 as the new home for international flights.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista expressed confidence that the terminal reassignment in NAIA, as proposed by the incoming operator, would improve airport efficiency and bring about passenger comfort.
Bautista said he is even suggesting dedicating Terminal 3 – the most congested in NAIA – as the jump-off point for international flights.
In a scenario he shared with reporters, Bautista said this would mean moving the domestic flights of Cebu Pacific out of Terminal 3. With this, the largest airline in the Philippines would operate its local network in Terminal 2, together with AirAsia Philippines and Royal Air Philippines.
The scenario would require flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to relocate its domestic flights to Terminal 1, together with its international trips. As such, foreign carriers currently assigned in Terminal 1 would resettle their flights to Terminal 3.
In the end, Terminal 1 would be operated solely by PAL, Terminal 2 would be a domestic hub for Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines and Royal Air Philippines and Terminal 3 would be the takeoff point for all international flights, excluding PAL.
Bautista said if it were up to him that would be the order of terminal assignments in NAIA, but he leaves it to the discretion of the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), led by San Miguel Corp., to decide.
NAIA concluded a similar program of airline reshuffling a year ago in line with the Schedule and Terminal Assignments Rationalization, wherein PAL was forced to spread out its flight network, from being the sole carrier in Terminal 2, to evacuating its international trips to Terminal 1.
PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng wants to see the transition plan first before throwing his support to another terminal relocation. He said opportunities and challenges have to be identified ahead of time so airlines are prepared to address potential issues.
Earlier, PAL had appeared to be in full support of the terminal reassignment as was stated by the airline’s executive vice president and general counsel Carlos Luis Fernandez. The executive told The STAR the carrier backs NNIC in any plans it has to optimize NAIA.
The NNIC plans to rejig airline assignments for runway efficiency with the objective of reducing instances when a terminal is swamped with several widebodies all at once.
SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said widebodies tend to require larger space for boarding, taxiing and takeoff, and spreading out their terminal assignments could quicken turnaround time in the airport by 30 percent.
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