Manila: Airlines have expressed concern over the reported transfer of airline operations among the four Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals, saying the plan needs careful study.
The plan of the new NAIA management, which will take over airport operations starting Sept. 14, involves gradually moving all foreign carriers to Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 would be exclusively for Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Cebu Pacific’s (CEB) domestic operations would be moved to Terminal 2 from Terminal 3, while AirAsia’s domestic flights would go back to Terminal 4 from the current Terminal 2 hub.
The planned move reportedly aims to maximize runway utilization, accommodating more aircraft movements per hour.
In a statement Tuesday, CEB expressed its support to the long-term vision of the new NAIA management but noted however, that a thorough consultative process and sufficient preparation time are essential for every terminal transfer to ensure seamless transition with minimal disruption to passengers.
“In Sin
gapore, it took us a year of discussions and coordination with both parties before we moved to Changi Airport Terminal 4 from the low-cost carrier terminal. This illustrates the critical need for comprehensive planning and cooperation in such transitions,” the Gokongwei-led airline said.
CEB also mentioned the importance of ensuring minimal disruption for passengers, especially during peak travel periods like Christmas season.
In a separate statement, AirAsia Philippines said the new management’s pronouncement requires careful planning, including time and motion studies, consideration of environmental factors and adequate time for implementation to minimize disruptions.
“We trust that optimizing airport utilization will benefit everyone involved,” AirAsia said.
Among the users of Terminal 1, Korean Air (KE) believes that some airlines need to stay there “to avoid unnecessary congestion.”
“As there are many foreign airlines departing around midnight, appropriate distribution between Terminals 1 and 3 is r
equired, taking into account the type of aircraft and runway performance,” KE’s Regional General Manager for the Philippines and Guam Byung Kwon Lee told the Philippine News Agency.
Lee said airport congestion during KE’s departure times should be considered.
He said he is expecting that there would not be a mass movement of foreign airlines, regardless of the congestion.
Data from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) showed that there are 18 foreign carriers currently operating at Terminal 1. All of PAL’s international flights are also currently stationed at Terminal 1.
To date, there are 22 foreign carriers operating at Terminal 3, which is also CEB and AirAsia’s hub for their international flights.
In 2023, then MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong also moved terminal operations of many airlines to improve capacity and to make Terminal 2 an all-domestic facility, increasing its capacity by 20 percent or capable of accommodating up to 10 million passengers annually.
Source: Philippines News
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