Philippine airlines reported a marked improvement in their on-time performance (OTP) in September 2019, hitting an average 83% for flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for the month, the highest so far this year.
September’s OTP is up seven percentage points from the OTP rates posted in July and August 2019, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) said in a joint statement.
The record OTP took place three months after member-airlines of ACAP vowed in June to support decongestion of NAIA and improve convenience of the air-riding public.
ACAP members include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, PAL Express, and AirAsia Philippines.
The last time OTP had hit this high level was in September 2018 at 85%.
ACAP member airlines last June pledged to work with the government to step up efforts to reduce flight delays, help decongest NAIA, and improve the experience of air passengers, all in order to address the growing demand for air travel in the Philippines, particularly at NAIA.
In the same month, DOTr also started publishing the OTPs of air carriers operating at several international airports in the country.
From July to September 2019, the OTP of local carriers operating at NAIA reached 78%, which is higher than the OTPs of 65% in the first quarter and 62% in the second quarter.
DOTr said this brings the OTP at NAIA for the period January-September 2019 to 68%.
As of end-September 2019, ACAP member airlines alone mounted a total of 8,685 flights—up 5% year-on-year.
OTP is the adherence by an airline to published flight schedules. ACAP attributed the improved OTP at NAIA to a combination of operational conditions and improvements.
“We thank the government for working with the airlines to address growing demand,” outgoing ACAP chairman Lance Gokongwei, who is Cebu Pacific’s president and chief executive officer, said.
“The use of Runway 31 for take-off has led to faster movement of aircraft, reduced aircraft taxi times resulting in less ramp congestion. We have also seen a reduction in departure clearance time delays because of better airspace management and the full use of the new air traffic and navigation system.”
To enhance their respective OTPs, the carriers have implemented process improvements that include stricter adherence to gate closure and door closure times; deployment of stand-by flight deck crews at the airport to reduce response time to unexpected situations; and adoption of new technologies to better monitor operations in real time.