The overlay and repair works of Ninoy Aquino International Airport runway 06/24 is now in its final phase and is expected to be completed this weekend.
“I am glad that we are completing the project way ahead of its original schedule which is July 2019, just in time for the expected peak this summer,” said Eddie Monreal, general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority.
Runway 06/24 is the main runway of the country’s main gateway.
The P704-million project was undertaken with two components, the civil works and electrical phases. The civil works package involves repair of runway pavement, total asphalt overlay with a length of 3,697 meters and 60 meters wide, repair and asphalt overlay mixed with anti-rutting additive on the approach portions of taxiway exits and restoration of runway pavement markings.
The electrical phase, on the other hand, consists of removal, resurfacing, and re-installation of affected airfield lights including runway center lights, curvature lights, threshold lights, sequence flashing lights at runway 06/24 and connecting taxiways.
On a daily basis, Naia’s main runway observes maintenance closure from 1:30 a.m to 3:30 a.m. for derubberizing, degreasing and small repairs when needed.
Runway surface maintenance such as these are done to maximize friction for wheel braking and more importantly, as a safety standard.
Any activity that would require longer closure hours is covered by a Notice to Airmen which is issued in advance to pilots and airline operators through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
“This is done so that the airlines can adjust their schedules accordingly for flights that will be affected by the closure and have ample time to inform their passengers about these adjustments,” said Monreal.
He added “Nothing is done without the knowledge of airline operators. When the overlay project started in April 2018, a NOTAM was issued to inform them that a 12MN to 6 a.m. closure will be observed during the overlay implementation.”
Naia was listed in the top 10 most improved airports in the 2018 World Airport Awards by Skytrax.
The Manila airport ranked number 10 in the survey while Fiumicino Airport in Rome bagged the top spot followed by Perth Airport in Australia and Calgary International Airport in Alberta, Canada.
Completing the list of 10 most improved airports were Taiwan Taoyuan, Athens, Nadi, Monreal, Moscow Sheremetyevo and Houston Intercontinental.
The Skytrax World Airport Awards are voted for by air travellers in the largest, annual global airport customer satisfaction survey.