The Philippine government has inaugurated the P452-million Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) taxiway extension designed to help address congestion at the country’s main gateway.
Taxiway November, a 1,500-meter taxiway in front of Terminal 3’s apron, was extended by 658 meters and connected to Taxiway Charlie, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
Construction of the extension of the taxiway—an aircraft road that connects runways to aprons and terminals at airports—began in November 2014, and the project was completed October this year. MIAA, together with the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, led the inauguration on December 18.
MIAA said the project aims to further decongest the taxiway—particularly at the intersection of the runways—and to facilitate ground handling flexibility of international operations.
From Terminal 3, aircraft now have to make fewer turns at the taxiway heading towards the runway. Travel time along the taxiway is expected to be cut from the usual four minutes to two minutes, easing flight traffic at the airport.
Aside from the taxiway extension, MIAA also plans to construct two more rapid exit taxiways (RETs) to further reduce the time an aircraft occupies the runway. RETs allow aircraft to leave the runway at greater speed.
The P300-million project involves building two RETs—one measuring 20,708 square meters and the other 12,890 square meters—on the west and east sides of primary runway 06/24. Expected to be completed in 2017, The RETs are intended to further minimize runway occupancy time for aircraft and, together with the extended taxiway, double the number of flights per hour on the runway.
