1 week Ago By Lance Spencer Yu
MANILA, Philippines – The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is all set to begin its long-awaited rehabilitation, with 10 new flight routes to launch in the last quarter of 2024 as well. The San Miguel-led New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) will be taking over the operations and maintenance of the country’s main international airport starting Saturday, September 14. (READ: Expect pricier flights: NAIA terminal fees may climb 73% after privatization ) According to NNIC general manager Angelito Alvarez, the turnover will not disrupt current operations.
It will be business as usual, with changes “implemented gradually and methodically.” The rehabilitation of NAIA will nearly double annual terminal capacity to 62 million passengers from the current 35-million design capacity, Alvarez said on Monday, September 9, in an aviation forum hosted by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines. Initial works include landside and airside road improvements, passenger terminals expansion, existing terminal improvements, and new parking facilities.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista also said the government stands to gain P900 billion in revenues throughout the 25-year concession period. “I am unable to hide my admiration for Mr. Ramon Ang and his team from SMC Infrastructure, after witnessing the way they are constructing the massive Bulacan International Airport, MRT7 (Metro Rail Transit Line 7), and other DOTr infrastructure projects,” Bautista said during the event.
(READ: San Miguel’s Bulacan airport, MRT7 delayed until 2028 ) Ramon Ang wants an even bigger NAIA terminal than promised. Can he deliver? New routes in Q4 As NAIA gets its much-needed makeover, travelers can also anticipate the launch of several new routes in the final three months of 2024. At least 10 new flights between domestic and international destinations are set to start in October and December, including direct flights from Manila to Brisbane, Australia, and Paris, France.
Here is the list presented by Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso during the forum: Airline Route Frequency per week Indicative entry period Philippine Airlines Manila-Seattle 3x October 2 Cebu Pacific Cebu-Osaka 4x October 15 Cebu Pacific Iloilo-Singapore Daily October 27 Cebu Pacific Iloilo-Hong Kong Daily October 27 Cebu Pacific Davao-Bangkok 3x October 29 Cebu Pacific Manila-Chiang Mai 3x October 29 AirAsia Manila-Nagoya 3x October 29 United Airlines San Francisco-Narita-Cebu 7x October Qantas Airways Brisbane-Manila 4x October 28 Air France Paris-Manila 3x to 4x December Philippine Airlines also previously expressed interest in restarting direct flights to Europe — possibly in France — by 2025, although the flag carrier is still seeking help from the government to make potential flight prices affordable. – Rappler.com.
