The government on Wednesday launched the Airport Bus Service to give passengers an alternative mode of transportation going to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Under the new scheme, the Manila International Airport Authority will provide 42 bus units starting in June that will ferry passengers to and from the Naia on a 24-hour basis.
An interim service will first be carried out making use of six standard, air-conditioned buses as service provider AIR21 is now in the process of completing its fleet of premium bus units for the airport.
The bus service, a project of the Department of Transportation and Communications and its attached agency, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, aimed at improving transportation services available for passengers at the Naia.
AIR21 will be operating the premium Airport Bus Service under the brand name UBE Express.
From Terminals 1, 2, and 3, the bus service will have two routes, particularly going to Roxas Boulevard and the Makati Central Business District.
There will be designated off-street passenger stops along the routes.
Along Roxas Boulevard, passengers will be able to board and descend from the bus at Midas Hotel, Hotel Jen, Manila Hotel, Mall of Asia, and the Entertainment City.
Passenger stops for Makati City include Glorietta 4 and 5, as well as Ascott Hotel.
Each bus can accommodate 24 passengers and has large compartments for baggage.
The premium bus is equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, Global Positioning System, and an on-board Wi-Fi facility.
Passengers who wish to take the premium bus may approach the transportation desk personnel at the arrival curbside area for assistance. An automated fare collection system will also be developed in the future to allow advanced online booking.
The premium bus service has an LTFRB-approved flat rate of P300.
The bus units will be manned by trained drivers and an on-board transport attendant, similar to an airline flight attendant.
MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado acknowledged the DoTC and the LTFRB for granting more transport categories that serve the airport.
“The MIAA welcomes this initiative that will guarantee enhanced travel experiences for our passengers. With the introduction of the premium bus service, passengers can expect shorter queues for transport vehicles at the curbside areas of the terminals,” Honrado says.
The MIAA is also ironing out agreements with Transportation Network Companies for the start of their operations at the NAIA.