TRANSPORTATION Secretary Art Tugade assured that the country’s main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), is ready to increase its passenger arrival cap from 5,000 to 10,000 in anticipation of the influx of arriving passengers as the National Capital Region (NCR) and several areas in the country shift from a more relaxed Alert Level 1 status.
Secretary Tugade said the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Sector has prepared for the downgrading of the NCR’s Alert Level Status to fully reopen the economy.
“Two days ago, we hit 7,500 for inbound passengers at the NAIA. And we are expecting in the next couple of days it will be 10,000 passengers. Are we ready for the gradual increase from 5,000 to 10,000? The answer is YES,” Secretary Tugade said, adding that the DOTr is implementing “structural and procedural approaches” in so far as the aviation sector is concerned.
“Converting from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1, masasabi ko ‘ho na sa mga nagawa at gagawin pa namin, handa na ang Department of Transportation and we support the move to lower to Alert Level 1, following the guidance and mandates of the IATF,” Secretary Tugade said.
Airline companies likewise will now be allowed to operate at 100% passenger capacity starting today, 01 March 2022.
Secretary Tugade explained that while airline companies are allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 100%, universal and mandatory safe measures – from departure, inflight, and arrival – will remain in effect in all airport facilities and while onboard the aircraft.
Secretary Tugade likewise announced that the NAIA Terminal 4 will resume its operations on 28 March 2022 with domestic travel posting an increase of over 150% from January 2022 to February 2022.
“Yung NAIA Terminal 4, ito ‘ho ay makakadagdag ng pasilidad upang tanggapin at paliparin ang mga pasahero. Ito ‘ho ay makakatulong din upang ating masolusyunan ang 10,000 passenger cap,” he explained.
Similarly, the newly-inaugurated NAIA Taxiway Charlie will allow the airport to accommodate more arrivals and departures per day. The upgraded taxiway will increase slots from the previous 34 to 40 aircraft to 44 to 46 aircraft.
Under an Alert Level 1 status, all establishments will be fully operational and public transportation will be at full seating capacity.
