NAIA overnight parking fee hike to P1,200 ‘intentional,’ ‘not for profit’ — NNIC

San Miguel- led New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), the private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), on Thursday said that its move to hike the overnight parking fee at the country’s main gateway was not meant to rake in more profit but to enhance parking access for passengers.

At the sidelines of the 2024 Aviation Summit in Pasay City, NNIC General Manager Angelito Alvarez said the hike in overnight parking rates was “intentional… (a) conscious decision.”

From the previous rate of P300, the overnight parking rate for cars was increased four times to P1,200.

For motorcycles, it was adjusted to P480; while for buses, the overnight parking fee was set at P2,400.\

Alvarez said the move was a “demarketing” strategy, which was meant to discourage overnight parking since parking spaces are limited.

The NNIC general manager said that the space occupied vehicle parked for 24 hours could have accommodated at least eight vehicles already, considering the average parking time is three hours.

“We have very limited parking slots in the airport… What we want is to discourage overnight parking,” Alvarez said.

Nonetheless, he said the NNIC is already developing a four-hectare area in NAIA Terminal 3 to be a new parking space which could have a capacity of around 2,500 slots.

“It could be available in two weeks time,” Alvarez said.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has earlier defended the increase in the overnight parking fees at NAIA being implemented by the gateway’s new private sector operator.

Bautista explained the move was meant to discourage overnight parking at NAIA as parking spaces were meant only for short-term use of those picking up or dropping off passengers at the airport.

“Those complaining about it were the ones using it for overnight parking. It was not supposed to be for overnight parking,” the Transportation chief said.

Effective October 1, NNIC implemented an increase in parking rates at NAIA.

The Transportation chief said that some of those parking overnight at NAIA were not even going to the airport but to the nearby casinos.

“Dapat siguro ‘yung airport facilities natin is para sa mga passengers,” he said.

House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas had criticized the parking fee hike in a separate statement, pointing out that the airport has not seen any upgrades since the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corp. took over on September 14.

"Charging P1,200 for overnight parking is an outright attack on our workers and travelers, many of whom rely on NAIA for their livelihoods and transit,” Brosas said.

“What’s more disturbing is that these fees are being imposed long before the public sees any real improvements in airport services,” she added.—RF, GMA Integrated News