The awfulness of Manila's Airport and why...

If you have a look at this satellite image and zoom in at the south end of the runway, you'll see the apron and terminal building. There are two A320s on the apron one of which is (I believe) AirPhilsExpress, the other, which appears to be departing, may be PAL.

Manila is not the only gateway into the Philippines but it's certainly the major one. I don't know about Clark's terminal but those at Cebu and Davao are in much better shape with the latter very similar in its starkiness to the terminal at Cardiff Airport: lots of exposed steel and huge lamps suspended from the roof girders.

There was a plan to move all international flights from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, T1 would then have been closed and redeveloped. The airlines objected on the basis that a good part of T3's infrastructure was either not installed, missing or not working - including air-bridges, baggage scanners etc., - because the German contractors hadn't completed the project whose contract was later cancelled by the current President.

Markham, I stand corrected.
thanks for the info

I hate NINOY because of all the queuing. I've got off the plane, give me my bags and let me get out of here!

Clark has two runways, one of which could accomodate the Space Shuttle, and a small, quite new, terminal building. When handling not more than two flights, it is a very pleasant experience, but it can get "swamped" very easily.

That's useful since NASA abandoned it...

Whilst it does indeed have two runways, only one is fit for use. The other, "inner", runway is due to be rehabilitated and extended and, if the airport expansion plan goes ahead, a third runway will be constructed between the expressway and terminal buildings. That plan would go ahead but for San Mig's plan to construct a PAL-only airport in Manila thus freeing terminal 2 which would then be the international terminal.

I have just come back from phil, and I don't have problems with Manila, Dubai or Brunei, its London Heathrow I always have problems with the staff are so unwilling to help you and are so unpleasant..! just makes me feel that I want to go anywhere other then the UK.

Like both of you, I loathe Heathrow. Never had a problem in Manila.

Well spotted.

Well, I can loathe Heathrow and still think that T1 at NAIA is a dump!

NAIA. It needs an upgrade. Lets face it. For the good of the Philippines.

A view from ThePinoy :

World’s best airport helps world’s worst
Changi Airport of Singapore will be sharing its expertise with the Philippine’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 makeover.

"Changi Airport’s experts on electromechanical engineering, airport passenger and cargo flow systems, architecture and commercial revenue research and terminal design led by senior VP Jose Pantangco arrived in Manila on Monday and met DOTC secretary Manuel Roxas.

The team aims to boost Manila Airport’s current 7 million annual passenger throughput, help the airport develop maintenance capacities and assist in its upgrade based on global standard.

“We welcome this opportunity to help the Philippine government, specifically the MIAA, to maximise its current potential in terms of serving its current and future customers better,” Pantangco said.

“We recognise Changi Airport’s international reputation as the number one airport in the world. This gives us confidence that cooperating with Changi Airport will reap positive results, particularly in line with our goal of delivering an efficient, distinctively Filipino, and customer-friendly airport for all travellers who will use NAIA T1 in the near future,” said Roxas.

Initially, the team will conduct facilities inspection in the airport and provide recommendations on its improvement.

Pantangco emphasised the need for improved services in an airport to create good impressions among travellers.

“If service levels are improved, and people get a lot more comfortable when they go through an airport, they tend to stay a bit longer, shop more, thus enhance the airport’s revenue-generating capacity, and generally say nice things about the airport when they get home,” said Pantangco.

SleepinginAirports.net, a website which gives airport reviews has hailed Changi Airport as this year’s world’s best airport and NAIA-1 as the world’s worst."



http://thepinoy.net/?p=7096

So much money going into the Philippines, where is it all going..?