Four international airlines have volunteered to move their operations from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, according to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Eddie Monreal.
The four transferees are Qantas Airways (scheduled for October 28), United Airlines (October 28), Qatar Airways (December 1), and Turkish Airlines (January 1, 2019).
In a press conference on October 24, Monreal said this is part of the ongoing transfer of airlines from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, as well as from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2.
“International flights, specifically U.S. flights which are giving us more volume in terms of arrival and departure, we will transfer them to Terminal 1,” Monreal said.
The MIAA chief said this is “to minimize the international operations in Terminal 2 because as we all know, Terminal 2 is not really designed for international travel.”
Monreal assured that these transfers can already be accommodated and that the volunteer airlines “are starting to move their own offices.”
He added that the movements are planned “so we don’t see any effect in terms of operations.” Moreover, Monreal said airlines will come up with their own advisory and communication measures with their passengers, but MIAA will also issue advisories.
Aside from the four airlines, Monreal said two or three more have also indicated their willingness to transfer, but MIAA said this will be subject to slot availability at Terminal 3.
Aside from the international airlines, Monreal said MIAA has talked to Philippine Airlines about transferring some of its domestic flights from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2. Once PAL has firmed up its plans, Monreal said there will be corresponding advisories.
On the earlier announcement about rationalizing airline terminal assignment, Monreal said there will be no total rationalization as they have found out that “because to the distance between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3… it will create a lot movements… in terms of movements of aircraft from one terminal to the other.”
He said the target with moving terminals is now “basically [if it’s possible to transfer, we will] but definitely there would be corresponding advisories before these things happen.”
MIAA last April announced its plan to change the terminal assignments of airlines as part of the airport’s rationalization and in response to Congress’ call for improved air traffic at the Philippines’ main hub.
However, MIAA’s mother agency, Department of Transportation, said last June that the planned terminal reassignment of airlines at NAIA will not push through on August 31, citing unforeseen operational constraints.
