The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Saturday completed its Schedule and Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR) program with the transfer of Air Asia Philippines’ domestic flights to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 2, ending 12 years of operation in Terminal 4.
On Friday, Air Asia led by its chief executive officer Ricky Isla facilitated a walkthrough from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2. The initiative, in partnership with MIAA, was aimed at familiarizing passengers on the changes in terms of their travel experience at the airport.
Isla and MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co inspected the south wing entrance where about 20 check-in counters, all dressed up, are situated.
“Undeniably, NAIA Terminal 2 offers more amenities and levels up the customer experience. It is indeed a winning move for our guests as we aim to expand our route network, and provide Filipinos with a better alternative for air travel. Our guests can only expect the best from us,” Isla noted.
Air Asia also prepared for other scenarios such as confusion among its guests who may not have looked at the preflight notification sent in advance as early as May via SMS and registered email address.
The airline established a customer help desk at NAIA Terminal 3 and 4 to assist guests with a shuttle service to Terminal 2 during the first few weeks of the transfer.
“We’ve invested heavily in information dissemination. But it is inevitable for some guests to be confused in the beginning. Through our media partners we hope to raise awareness among our guests,” Isla said.
He described the transfer to the “centennial terminal” as a winning move while maintaining NAIA Terminal 3 for all their international flights.
Air Asia management lauded Co and other MIAA officials for optimizing the utilization of the terminals which ultimately benefits the passengers.
“Ultimately, we want a better experience for all our passengers and airport users. With the transfer of Air Asia’s domestic operations, we are opening up new opportunities to support future growth and the expansion of air travel and tourism in the Philippines’ major gateway,” Co said.
Meanwhile, the Royal Air Philippines will also move its domestic flight operation from Terminal 4 to Terminal 2 effective July 1 while Sunlight Air will start operating in Terminal 4.
Terminal 2’s departure gates have a sitting capacity of more than 13,000 compared to Terminal 4’s 969 capacity.
Elaborating on passenger convenience, the ground floor in Terminal 2 is also accessible to a variety of transportation options such as transfer buses, car rentals, TNVS, and taxis.
On June 1, the flight services of Jeju Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Thai Airways and Gulf Air started at Terminal 3.
The Philippine Airlines, on the other hand, began operating all its international flights in Terminal 1 on June 16.
On April 16, flight services of Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, China Southern Airlines, Scoot, and Starlux Airlines were relocated from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 while PAL flights to and from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh were transferred to Terminal 1 on the same day.
Co said the undertaking aims to optimize the capacity of the four NAIA terminals, with NAIA Terminal 2 becoming a purely domestic terminal, consistent with its intended design when it was built in the late 1990s.
