The Ninoy Aquino International Airport, keeping its pace with global aviation, is preparing for the resumption of international flight operations in Terminal 3 this week.
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“As global aviation endeavors to return to normalcy, Manila International Airport Authority gears up by resuming international flight operations in NAIA Terminal 3,” the MIAA management said in a statement Saturday.
NAIA chief information officer Connie Bungag said after temporarily closing its doors in March 28 this year, Terminal 3 will finally open its gates to resume international flight services beginning 12:01 a.m. Wednesday (July 8).
She added all airlines which were relocated to Terminal 1 last March would also return to Terminal 3 beginning Monday.
Flights of All Nippon Airways (ANA), Air Aisa Berhad (AK), Cathay Pacific (CX), Emirates (EK), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), Qatar Airways (QR), Singapore Airlines (SQ) and Turkish Airlines (TK) will arrive and depart from Terminal 3 on July 8.
Bungag said international operations of other airline carriers assigned in Terminal 3, however, “remain suspended to date.”
These are Cebu Pacific, Delta Air, Qantas Airways, and United Airlines.
Meanwhile, Terminal 2 continues to service international arrival flights of Philippine Airlines. PAL international departures, on the other hand, operate from Terminal 1 at present.
Airlines assigned in Terminal 1 shall remain in Terminal 1.
These airlines are Air China (CA), Air Niugini (PX), Asiana Airlines (OZ), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern (MU), China Southern (CZ), Etihad Airways (EY), Eva Air (BR), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Gulf Air (GF), Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines (JL), Jeju Air (7C), Jetstar Asia (3K) Jetstar Japan (GK), Korean Airlines (KE), Kuwait Airways (KU), Malaysian Airlines (MH), Oman Air (WY), Royal Brunei Airlines (BI), Saudia Airlines (SV), Scoot (TR), Thai Airways (TG) and Xiamen Air.
Some foreign carriers operating in Manila also service repatriation flights.
Bungag said Terminal 4 would remain closed until further notice.
On current domestic operations, Cebu Pacific (5J), Cebgo (DG), Philippines Air Asia (Z2) and Air Swift (flights operate to and from Terminal 3 while Philippine Airlines (PR) and PAL Express (2P) operate to and from Terminal 2. These airlines also operate sweeper flights.
The MIAA management urged air travelers to constantly check airline websites for announcements.
Meanwhile, the Media Affairs Division of MIAA said the 13 international airlines that temporarily moved to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 1 due to COVID-19 would move back and start operating at NAIA terminal 3 starting July 8, 2020.
Media Affairs Division head Jess Martinez said that 13 international and local airlines would be back to Terminal 3.
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The 13 airlines based at Terminal 3 temporarily moved to NAIA Terminal 1 last April after airlines, domestic and international, cancelled their flights due to travel restrictions implemented by the Philippine government and several countries due to COVID-19 outbreak, Martinez said.
Martinez clarified that only foreign nationals who were stranded in the country when the restrictions were implemented, diplomats including their spouses and children, and other nationalities with a permanent residence visa could depart at NAIA on board an airline of their choice.
On the other hand, only returning Overseas Filipino Workers, stranded Filipinos in other countries and other nationalities with permanent residence visas and Students will be allowed to arrive at NAIA on board commercial flights, Martinez added.
Despite the international flights resumption, limited arrivals will be allowed at NAIA terminals: only 2,400 passengers per day that include 1,200 repatriated OFWs, and 1, 200 for commercial passengers under the restrictions being implemented by the IATF.
Some international airlines like Cathay Pacific Airlines have 6 flights per day from Hong Kong to Manila; now they will operate only once a day if there are enough passengers per flight, Martinez said.
The Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, and other government agencies that scaled down their operations and downsized their workforce at NAIA after flight cancellations by airlines and travel restrictions would be back to normal operations starting July 8, he added. With Che Santos