MANILA - The terminal fee at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may increase following the privatization of its operations. Other fees may also rise such as aeronautical fees and rental fees, which in turn may lead to a hike in airfares.
In an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista admitted that the San Miguel-led consortium which won the bid to operate NAIA may raise the terminal fee. But he clarified that the consortium must first improve the airport.
“Posible, but not necessarily kasi kung magiging efficient yung operations nila eh baka hindi naman sila masyadong magtaas ng terminal fee,” said Bautista.
The Transportation chief was also quick to add that NAIA’s terminal fee is among the lowest in Asia at P550 for international flights and P350 for domestic flights. He even compared it with Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport, both of which are privately operated.
“Ang Cebu mas mataas pa kay sa Maynila, P750 pero makita mo naman maayos yung operations nila. Ang Clark almost P750 na rin, pero dahil magaganda yung mga facilities na ginawa. These are now operated by the private sector,” said Bautista.
Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eric Ines has earlier mentioned that the agency also expects hikes in various charges at the airport. He said that many of the charges have remained unchanged for over two decades now.
“Definitely we can expect some [increases] in terms of rentals, navigation charges, all of it. Really it has been a long time- 24 years. The last time was April 2000,” said Ines.
Some airlines meanwhile welcome the privatization of the NAIA operations.
“We look forward to sustainable infrastructure improvements aimed at expanding NAIA’s capacity, which will benefit the traveling public through both increased passenger efficiency and convenience,” said Cebu Pacific President Xander Lao.
Air Asia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan is also happy with the upcoming improvements at the airport. “Sino ba aayaw sa magandang pasilidad, sa mas convenient na pag travel at ultimately dignidad pa rin ito ng pasahero.”
Dailisan however noted that he hopes the terminal fee and other airport charges won’t be drastically adjusted yet as it will have an impact on airline operations as well as on the passengers.
“It will also impact our cost sa operations namin…. Hopefully they will revisit para sa ganoon pwede naman siguro ma improve muna ang services,” said Dailisan.
