MIAA ready for surge in passengers
Credit to Author: LISBET K. ESMAEL| Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:26:38 +0000
Airport authorities are ready for the expected influx of passengers this upcoming Christmas season.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said on Monday the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) started to record higher passenger volume during the ‘Ber’ months, leading to the holidays.
“On a month-to-month basis, [its] probably 8 percent … increase normally in November to December,” he told The Manila Times following the Shipping and Logistic Outlook: Spurring Philippine Economic Growth forum in Manila.
During the panel discussion, Monreal said MIAA was ready for the surge in passenger volume. The official said a part of the government’s efforts to expand its capacity was to boost NAIA Terminal 2.
Earlier this year, he said the P600-million construction works for the said portion of the airport are targeted to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.
Monreal said MIAA would also monitor if airlines follow their schedule to avoid delays. “With a challenging capacity, one or two delays will definitely add to the congestion,” he said.
The country’s main air hub has been suffering from congestion as it was designed to cater to only 30 million flyers, but it is now hitting 44 million.
The crowded NAIA is set to undergo rehabilitation works as the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee provided its go signal for the group of tycoons’ proposal to develop the airport.
The so-called super consortium of AC Infrastructure Holdings, Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., bagged the original proponent status in September 2018 for its P102-billion offer to upgrade and offer the country’s main air hub, which has been suffering from overcrowding.
Meanwhile, while the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eyeing to make the Sangley Airport operational by November to decongest NAIA, Monreal said it would have no impact to passengers as only cargo and general aviation would be moved to the Cavite gateway.