AIRPORT and airline officials on Friday urged passengers traveling starting this weekend until Wednesday next week to allot ample time going to Ninoy Aquino International Airport to avoid flight delays in anticipation of influx of passengers in time for the observance of Lent.
PAL spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna said their clients with domestic flights should have at least two hours while those with international flights must arrive at the airport three hours early before their scheduled departure.
“PAL is urging passengers to check in early in view of volume of passengers this peak travel season,” she said.
Manila International Airport Authority officials said they are anticipating the increase number of air travelers beginning Friday in connection with the observance of Holy Week.
The stricter security measure also began at four terminals of Naia.
“Preparations are in place to make sure that traveling will be as hassle-free as possible this Holy Week. We advise passengers to prepare accordingly as well especially as they travel to the airport,” MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal said.
“Help desk will also be installed at all international and domestic terminals to be manned by MIAA public affairs, terminal operations, medical and terminal police,” he added.
Coordination has also been made with airlines regarding the efficient processing of their passengers especially at the check-in counters. Additional airline personnel will be deployed as needed to accommodate the increase in travelers.
Concerned government agencies operating at the airport—including the Office for Transportation Security, and the Bureaus of Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine—have also been directed to deploy sufficient personnel at their stations to ensure smooth passenger flow.
Security and traffic will be closely coordinated among the Airport Police Department, the Aviation Security Group of the Philippine National Police, the Metro Manila Development Authority, and the local government units of Parañaque City and Pasay City.
Both the APD and the Avsegroup will be assigned to secure the immediate premises of the airport by means of, among others, K9 units.
The Metro Manila Development Authority and local enforcers will be stationed along major roads leading to the terminals to guide vehicular traffic – especially at the area of Terminal 3, where traffic has been heavy due to the construction of the expressway.
Monreal, likewise, recommends that welcome and send-off parties be minimized to avoid congestion at the terminals.
Travelers are also reminded not to bring prohibited items to the airport and to stow all belongings in one’s carry-on baggage for faster processing at the screening checkpoints.
They are also encouraged to make use of airline check-in kiosks to hasten check-in procedures.
For any concern, passengers may approach airport staff at the help desks.
Aside from implementing Oplan Semana Santa in anticipation of the increase of travelers this holiday period, the MIAA also intensified its intelligence gathering and sharing information with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and other agencies to prevent any attempts to disrupt the smooth flow of operations at four terminals.