The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that there is no final decision yet on the new terminal assignment of airlines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal in a statement confirmed that new terminal assignments have been discussed with airlines “but no concrete decision has been made yet in view of the many options available for consideration.”
MIAA, which operates NAIA, last April announced its plan to change the terminal assignments of airlines as part of the airport’s rationalization and response to Congress’ call for improved air traffic at the country’s main aviation hub.
Reports of new terminal assignments circulated in traditional media and on online sites last April and May. DOTr attached agency Civil Aeronautics Board last May even posted online an advisory on the new terminal assignments that supposedly should be effective on August 1.
DOTr said an announcement will be made “once all options have been studied, bearing in mind comfort, convenience, and safety of our passengers.”
The proposed new assignments include making NAIA Terminal 1 solely for international flights, while Terminal 2 will be exclusively for the domestic flights of Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific.
Airlines proposed for Terminal 1 include PAL (international flights), Etihad, Saudia Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Terminal 3, meanwhile, is proposed to house the international flights of Cebu Pacific and those of other foreign airlines not assigned to Terminal 1.
Terminal 4, on the other hand, is recommended to accommodate the domestic flights of other airlines other than PAL and Cebu Pacific.
Under the current assignment, Terminal 1 houses the flights of most foreign carriers, while Terminal 2 is exclusively for flights of PAL and sister airline PAL Express. Terminal 3 also serves several foreign carriers, while Terminal 4 is for the flights of Cebgo, SkyJet, and AirAsia.
