DAILY passenger volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) this Holy Week could reach up to 157,000, New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) general manager Lito Alvarez said.
“Last year, the (average daily passenger volume) was 145,000. We are expecting 155,000 to 157,000 daily this year,” Alvarez said in a press conference on Thursday, April 10.
NAIA, he said, catered to a daily average of 160,000 passengers during the holiday season in December to January.
He thus expressed confidence that the airport could also handle the expected surge.
Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval told the Philippine News Agency that around 30 more personnel will be deployed at the NAIA this Holy Week.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, in the same press conference, said inconveniences may not be avoided due to the higher volume of passengers.
He called for public’s patience, especially toward airport workers.
Dizon and other government officials visited the NAIA terminals on Thursday.
He and Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco lauded operator NNIC and regulator Manila International Airport Authority for the improvements made in the airport so far.
“My observation is that customers comes first, and much attention was given to this endeavor,” Frasco said.
She said the NNIC has started renovating restrooms, and she is looking forward to further improvements, especially those driven by Filipino culture and an area showcasing Philippine gastronomy.
Dizon, on the other hand, noticed that more transport options were made available, and processing of passengers have become faster.
More improvements
Alvarez vowed that the public could expect more improvements in the coming months.
The NNIC is targeting to accommodate 54 million passengers this year, 3 million more than the 2024 tally.
The San Miguel Corp.-led consortium decided to halt the renovation of Terminal 4.
“We decided not to pursue with the renovation because it is a hazard. A replacement terminal will instead be developed in the International Cargo Terminal, where AirAsia domestic flights and some of Cebu Pacific’s flights will be hosted,” Alvarez said.
He added the Philippine Village Hotel will be demolished starting April 21 for the construction of Terminal 5 that is expected to be finished in two to three years.
The Bureau of Immigration is currently procuring new e-gates, he said.
Alvarez said that by September, passengers will experience modernization through the NNIC’s partnership with US-based Collins Aerospace.
The “full system overhaul” include self-service check-in kiosks, pre-security e-gates, self-bag drop stations, and biometric boarding gates. (PNA)
