Poe: NAIA rationalization plan will not solve airport congestion

Senator Grace Poe said Thursday said rationalization or relocating flights from one terminal to another will not ease airport congestion and may further exacerbate problems hounding the country's main gateway.

Poe, chairperson of Senate Committee on Public Services, said transfer of domestic operations is a complex issue and consultation is necessary to involve all airlines.

“The government’s plan to rationalize airport operations and distribute domestic flights should not be implemented arbitrarily, in that changes in airport operations will affect passengers,” Poe said in a memorandum dated March 7 sent to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and members of the committee.

Under the rationalization plan, Terminals 1 and 3 will be exclusive for international flights while Terminals 2 and 4 will be for domestic flights. Airlines were told to comply within six months.

Poe said this would not solve terminal congestion as Terminal 2 has a capacity of only 9 million passengers, as against the combined number of domestic passengers of more than 16 million.

She added the six-month deadline for airlines to comply with the airport rationalization plan may be arbitrary and the rationalization plan's implementation done in haste.

“The MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) is urged to review its rationalization plans with the view in mind of not prejudicing the interests of Filipino passengers. Extend beyond six months or even consortium expansion as an alternative,” she said.

She said the committee will give time for the MIAA to consult with various stakeholders in the industry to solve the congestion problem in NAIA and to serve the public with utmost attention.

Poe also said MIAA should assess offers to expand NAIA as it will not only resolve current issues but also provide for the exponential growth of the aviation industry as well as the national economy.

“As it is, expanding the capacity of the country’s main gateway would be the main solution to decongest the NAIA,” she said.

“The government should seriously consider the proposals of private consortiums to undertake the much-needed expansion of NAIA and act on it immediately.  Approve or deny proposals without delay so that we can move forward with NAIA expansion,” she added.

Last month, a consortium of the seven biggest companies in the Philippines submitted a P350-billion proposal to redevelop NAIA. The aim is to transform the airport into a “world-class facility and a regional air transport hub by upgrading its airside, landslide, and air navigation support.”

"This expansion of NAIA may more likely resolve existing constraints similar to the upgrading of terminals in Cebu. Contrasting these ventures with the intended terminal rationalization reveals that the planned redistribution of domestic and international flights may only be a band-aid solution to the continuing problems in NAIA," Poe said.

She further said the government should address the lack of seamless travel/connection among the four passenger hubs by establishing an inter-terminal connector or transportation system that would accommodate passengers with connecting flights.

“Taking into account of the magnitude of aircraft movements, the government should construct a third runway to meet growing demands of increased travelers,” Poe said.

Terminal fee

On the unclaimed passenger terminal fee, Poe recommended that airline companies  should establish a one-stop shop for it.  She said the stalls or booths should be conspicuously stationed at airports.

She added airlines should have a record of passengers who have unclaimed terminal fees so that they can use it if they are booking for a flight as payment for new terminal fee charges already included in the ticket purchase.

“A one year implementation of the refund should be in place. Claims of passengers with complete documents must be released within the day,” she said. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News