GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
NAIA, still the 'worst airport' according to pilots, flight crews
Sorry DOTC, the country's premier airport remains as one of the worst in the world despite efforts to spruce it up and improve it's image.
A report on Mashable Asia said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) got a thumbs down from pilots, flight attendants and other air travelers who responded to an AskReddit question.
The online poll came a year after the Philippine government proudly showcased the P1.3 billion face-lift project meant to finally rid NAIA of the stigma of having been named the worst airport in the world.
AskReddit asked pilots and flight attendants: "which airports do you love and which ones do you hate?"
It was not immediately clear whether those who took time to answer the informal poll were indeed pilots and cabin crew as many of the respondents chose to stay anonymous.
A netizen said the Philippines' main gateway "remains trapped in a time warp" due to its dilapidated facilities.
Another netizen mentioned the "tanim-bala" extortion scandal that hounded airport authorities late last year wherein bullets were sneaked into the luggage of unsuspecting passengers purportedly by unscrupulous individuals in cahoots with airport security.
The NAIA was described by "jimsensei" as a "hellhole".
"It's hard because all the other airports in Asia are palaces, but MNL remains trapped in a time warp," he said.
Another commenter, complained that there was no guide when he made his way through the airport. But he points to flight delays, which was caused by traffic congestion, as the worst part of his trip.
Apart from the NAIA, netizens also named the Los Angeles International Airport, Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal and LaGuardia Airport in New York City as among the worst airports.
In 2015, travel site Guide to Sleeping in Airports ranked NAIA as the eighth worst in Asia, a sharp improvement from its previous ranking as world's worst in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
The NAIA was the fourth worst airport in 2014.
The website cited the airport's rehabilitation efforts that have "helped decongest and clean up Terminal 1, and the introduction of things like the Wings Transit Lounge in Terminal 3 have helped make things more comfortable, albeit for a price."
"That said, things like leaking ceilings in Terminal 1 and collapsing floors in Terminal 2 show there is still room for improvement. Passengers remain annoyed by the poor customer service, the long queues, the sub-par food selection, the lack of restrooms and the crowded seating areas," the website said.
Changi still the best
Singapore's Changi International Airport, Detroit Metro Airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and Denver International Airport meanwhile, received positive reviews in the AskReddit poll.
