NAIA to get a facelift beginning Sept. 14 under new operator

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will soon have a facelift as the official turnover to its new operator, the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), begins on Saturday, September 14.

During the aviation forum on Monday organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, San Miguel Corporation chairman and CEO and concurrently NNIC president Ramon Ang said, "We can begin the work of organizing our airport and giving Filipino people the world class facility they deserve."

Beginning the third month up to one year after turnover, NNIC hopes to add new toilets and refurbish existing ones.

There will also be new air conditioning units and additional seats to be installed. Fast, reliable internet connection will be improved.

Meanwhile more developments will be seen after five years as NNIC hopes to increase passenger capacity to 62 million from the current capacity of 35 million as data shows passengers are expected to reach over 50 million this year.

The new management also hopes to increase traffic movement to 48 take-offs and landings during peak hours from the current 40 per hour.

Meanwhile, the additional passenger fee increase will not be implemented until after a year has lapsed.

NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez said, "Based on the administrative order that was recently signed the implementation of the increase in the terminal fee will only take effect after one year.
Eighty-two percent of the revenues other than passenger service charge will go to the government."

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the Philippines has not increased rates for more than two decades already which may have affected the airport's ability to upgrade.

"Twenty-four years na hindi nag-iincrease 'yung ating mga charges no, and I think this is one of the reasons why mabagal din 'yung improvements and development ng NAIA because kulang sa pondo. Siguro it's about time," he said.

(Our charges have not increased for the past 24 years. I think this is one of the reasons why improvements and development of NAIA have been show because funds are tight. Maybe it's about time [to raise the fees].) —KG, GMA Integrated News