Four airlines have signified their intention to transfer flight operations from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 next year.
This, according to Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal, is happening despite the decision of his agency in July to defer the implementation of the Terminal Rationalization Program.
Monreal said the four international airlines that would be relocated to Terminal 3 are Qantas Airways, United Airlines, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.
The transfer will coincide with the P606-million rehabilitation of NAIA Terminal 2. The airport authority, however, said there is no tentative date yet for the start of the civil works at the facility.
The new airline assignments at four NAIA terminals, aimed to decongest terminals and improve passenger convenience, was supposed to begin last August but the airport management deferred the plan.
In a statement dated July 30, the MIAA said the discussions gave rise to unforeseen operational constraints that require longer time to resolve.
The MIAA said that using Naia Terminal 2 exclusively for domestic flights will necessarily increase passenger traffic from an average of 26,000 to 60,000 per day.
“This traffic in addition to all pending construction in Terminal 2 such as the expansion of its lobby, expansion of equipment parking at the Northwing and Southwing areas, the construction of additional bus gates and the canopy by the bridge will render it difficult to conveniently accommodate such volume of passengers,” it said.
“Additionally, the forthcoming and much-needed rehabilitation of Terminal 2 will further limit the capacity of the Terminal to handle the exponential increase in passenger traffic if the (Rationalization) Program will be implemented prior all major construction works for rehabilitation.”
Meanwhile, the Civil Aeronautics Board announced on Thursday that beginning Dec. 21, air travelers will experience a mobile application program that will show real time data flight.
CAB director Carmelo Arcilla said the mobile app using digital technology to improve passengers’ experience is very important as it contain real-time information about canceled and delayed flights.
The mobile app, he said, would enable airline passengers access to important data about flights.