New NAIA Infra Corp. says terminal reassignments 'will surely happen'

New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), the private proponent that will take over the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), on Monday said terminal reassignments will surely happen, in a bid to decongest the gateway and improve efficiency.

According to NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez, the group had already engaged with several consultants regarding the reassignment of terminals being used by airlines to improve passenger experience and boost flight efficiency.

“This is something that will surely happen,” he said during the EJAP-SMC Aviation Forum in Makati City, as the group is tasked to increase aircraft movements per hour to 48 flights from the current 41 flights.

“There’s really congestion at the airport so if we will maintain the status quo, you can just imagine the impact on the passenger experience, so we will need to do something while the new Terminal 2 extension still to be built,” he added.

Alvarez was referring to a new passenger terminal building that is planned to be built on the site currently occupied by the Philippines Village Hotel, which will be connected to NAIA Terminal 2.

Under its plan, NNIC said NAIA Terminal 1 will be used by flag carrier Philippine Airlines, while Terminal 2 will be a purely domestic terminal, including those of Cebu Pacific. Terminal 3 will cater to all the foreign airlines currently operating in Terminal 1. Terminal 4, meanwhile, will cater to AirAsia flights that are currently in Terminal 2.

“With regards to the terminal reassignment, the end-state will happen only in about two years once the Terminal 2 extension will be completed,” Alvarez said.

He noted, however, that this would be a gradual process due to the space limitation, with the first phase involving AirAsia moving from Terminal 2 to Terminal 4. The vacated wing will then accommodate Cebu Pacific which will move from Terminal 3. The space left in Terminal 3 will then be occupied by foreign airlines that are operating in Terminal 1.

“It will be a gradual process. That’s the best that we can do at this point in time. As I stated earlier, things can only normalize once this Terminal 2 extension is completed,” Alvarez said.

For their part, officials of carriers such as AirAsia Philippines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines said they are open to working with the NNIC on the reassignment.

NNIC, made up of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp., is set to take over NAIA on September 14, 2024.

Previously called SMC SAP & Co. Consortium, NNIC in March inked a P170.6-billion concession agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to take over NAIA after it offered the highest share of its future revenues from operating the gateway to the government.

The group committed at least P122.3 billion in capital investments for the entire 25-year concession period, equivalent to P4.89 billion per year. It would need to make an upfront payment of P30 billion to the government, and another P2 billion in annual payments for the duration of the contract.—LDF, GMA Integrated News