MIAA elated NAIA no longer among worst airports in the world
Monreal
THE Manila International Airport Authority welcomed results of the latest survey of the “Guide to Sleeping in Airports”, which no longer included the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the 20 worst airports in the world.
The latest survey was released in the travel website “The Guide To Sleeping In Airports” on Oct. 15. Likewise, the post named the five worst airports in Asia, which also excluded NAIA.
MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said that among the reforms implemented during the Duterte administration were the restrictions on general aviation to prioritize commercial flights and reduce flight delays.
These reforms included the imposition of the five-minute rule (where pilots who declare they are ready to take off must depart within the prescribed time or they would be put back at the back of the queue) to reduce flight delays, as well as to instill discipline among airlines.
Another reform was the construction of Rapid Exit Taxiways to allow an aircraft to leave the runway at higher speed and increase flight movements; provision of cleaner toilets, additional seats, free WiFi, and well-wishers’ area.
Regular taxis (white taxis) were also allowed to queue and pick up passengers at designated points in NAIA terminals to address the shortage of taxi units servicing passengers.
“We are happy to hear the recent development. However, the bigger challenge now is how to maintain or even surpass this achievement. We are only good as the last race. The task ahead is enormous, we are wishing to be part of the list of best airports in the future,” Monreal said.
In the past, NAIA has consistently made the list of world’s worst airports where travelers rate airports based on their overall airport experience.
Some of the traveler’s complaints are long queues, broken toilets and air-conditioning units, as well as dishonest taxi pricing and limited public transport options, have constantly plagued the NAIA thus earning it the “world’s worst airport” title from 2011 to 2013.
In 2014, it landed in the 4th place. It was not included in the top 10 worst airports in the world in 2015, but landed 8th worst airport in Asia.
The October 2016 survey where NAIA landed the 5th place as world’s worst airports was attributed to the issue of “laglag-bala,” which was the complaint of travelers especially overseas Filipino workers, but was later addressed after the term of the Aquino administration.
Meanwhile, four Philippine airports again joined the list of the top 25 best airports in Asia for this year: Iloilo International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Clark International Airport, and Davao International Airport.