The manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 expressed dismay after a travel website named the airport the worst in the world, GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation" newscast reported Thursday. “It’s rather unfair, dahil we are working so hard to improve the services and facilities at the premier airport," NAIA-1 terminal manager Dante Basanta said in an interview with GMA reporter Dano Tingcungco. Basanta was referring to NAIA’s recently acquired label as the world’s worst airport in “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports," a site that reviews the quality and facilities of the world’s airports. Basanta, who toured Tingcungco around the airport, showed improvements such as refurbished cealings, upholstered seats, and a more spacious arrival area. Tingcungco himself checked one of the airport’s restrooms, which critics said lack basic facilities. The restroom that Tingcungco checked had running water, soap, and a functioning tissue dispenser, among other things. “It proves that we are doing something," Basanta said, adding that NAIA had been implementing reforms even before its negative online ratings came out. But Basanta admitted that airport authorities can only do so much. “We cannot compete with other airports kasi hindi naman masyadong modern ang airport natin. We can only do so much with the old facilities," he said. “Binabawi naman natin yon sa services natin" The government is exploring other ways to improve airport services, including the transfer of the Philippines’ premier international airport to Clark in Pampanga. – Source:- http://www.gmanews.tv/story/236074/nation/unfair-to-call-naia-the-worlds-worst-airport-says-manager
I thought this was a good follow up to the above news item... BCDA to build, develop, operate Clark Airport The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will be tasked with the construction and development of the Clark International Airport, the state-owned agency said on Friday. The Clark International Airport will be developed under the authority of Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, said BCDA chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova. Roxas had earlier announced plans to sell the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for nearly $2.5 billion, an amount that would be enough to fund the construction of a replacement in Clark, Pampanga. He also clarified, however, that the plan would not “happen overnight," adding that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) may end up keeping both airports if growth is “very high." BCDA has mapped out its plans for major buildings to be placed under their ownership, including the Clark International Airport. In September, the BCDA met with the DOTC to iron out the plans for the Clark International Airport Gateway Terminals and the policies and regulatory frameworks for the Philippine aviation industry, the BCDA said. 'Unity of purpose' Both the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) and the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), subsidiaries of the BCDA, have agreed to the BCDA’s role in developing the international airport. The subsidiaries will be tasked with operating the airport and convincing airlines to move to Clark. “We have a very short window to make this happen and we want to do it now with the unity of purpose and singular focus in delivering the infrastructure which our country needs for a long time," said Casanova. Under Republic Act No. 7227, the BCDA owns all properties and assets of the CIAC and the CDC, giving it the authority to take on the airport’s development. The same law also gives the BCDA the authority to undertake projects such as the expansion and development of the Clark International Airport. The BCDA is also responsible for the development of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the public-private partnership with the Manila North Tollways Corp. The expansion of the Clark International Airport is seen to help boost the local economy via increased tourist arrivals and the creation of investment opportunities and employment, said the BCDA. source:- http://www.gmanews.tv/story/236181/business/bcda-to-build-develop-operate-clark-airport
Closing NAIA for good would be dumb, but surely they have the capacity to rebuild it now that NAIA 3 is open, what is the problem with moving international flights to the terminal that was built for it? Business travellers will not like the idea of being forced to fly into Clark with a long long road journey ahead of them to get to their business destinations in Manila, like it or not most business is centred around Manila. I must admit that I have never slept at NAIA but I have a very large soft spot for the run down old place, I will also admit that generally I have never really been exposed to having to rough it there as I always try to keep 600 peso spare for the Club Manila lounge, the one with no windows and the aquarium, good wifi and nice relaxing atmosphere and rarely busy. I mean it's a dump, but it physically works, I am so used to the routine of get round the corner, buy some chocolate for the kids and extended family and cigs for the older guys, then on to immigration, get through grab my bags head for the taxi and then away we go. It's actually quite efficient I am usually through the outside gate and in the taxi within 20-30 minutes of landing. What really might help is providing and environment that does not cause so many foreign carriers to just up sticks like KLM have just done.
Palace: Gov't studying all options for NAIA-1 Amid concerns raised about having foreign investors operate or acquire the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 1 (NAIA-1), Malacañang on Saturday said it is studying all options on what to do with the facility that is recently branded the worst in the world. But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that for now, all the government can do is to take all measures to rehabilitate the NAIA-1. “At this point pinag-aaralan lahat ng options. At present, we are doing what we can to rehabilitate NAIA-1," she said on government-run dzRB radio. She added the “sale" of NAIA-1 is just one of the suggestions, aside from moving the country’s premier airport to Clark in Pampanga. Earlier this week, administration ally Sen. Ralph Recto warned that bringing in private investors to operate or acquire NAIA-1 may not cure the 30-year airport terminal of its worst features. Recto, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee, also said such a move may “result in higher airport fees and may pose some security risks." “Not all the woes of government could be remedied by running to the private sector," he added Source:- http://www.gmanews.tv/story/236235/business/palace-govt-studying-all-options-for-naia-1
