The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is preparing for the expected growth in the volume of passengers as they go home to the provinces or travel overseas to commemorate All Soul’s Day on November 1 and celebrate the Christmas holidays.
File photo courtesy of Manila International Airport Authority / Facebook
MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said Friday, Oct. 21, that the lifting of travel restrictions and the successful vaccination program of the government promoted confidence among air travelers as can be gleaned by the continuing increase in MIAA’s passenger statistics over the recent months.
He said the total monthly passenger traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country's premier airport, has already reached 77 percent of pre-pandemic levels or around three million passengers for the month of August 2022.
Domestic traffic has so far peaked to around 109 percent or 1.94 million passengers compared to the same period in 2019 while international passenger traffic remains to be at just over 50 percent or 1.06 million passengers of pre pandemic levels, he added.
International travel has been gradually recovering as more destinations like Japan and South Korea lift their strict border restrictions.
To cope up with the expected surge in passenger traffic this season, MIAA joined the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in its preparations for the annual OPLAN Biyaheng Ayos this Undas and Christmas holidays.
Chong said a composite team of MIAA personnel from the public affairs, operations, police and medical units shall be available to assist passengers at the "Oplan Help" desks.
These desks will be the focal point for all inquiries relating to airport and airline concerns while personnel from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will be nearby to attend to issues pertaining to passenger rights under the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR), he explained.
The MIAA encouraged the Airline Operators Council to designate focal persons so that airline-related concerns can be attended to with dispatch. They will work hand-in-hand with the duty representatives at the Oplan Help desks.
The MIAA general manager also held discussions with its management team, airlines and other aviation industry stakeholders to ensure proper deployment of equipment and manpower resources in order to facilitate the efficient handling of flights.
He directed terminal managers to ensure that vital facilities are in good running condition and implement contingency measures stipulated in the MIAA’s Irregular Operations Manual (MIAA-IROPS) when the need arises. He ordered MIAA monitoring units from operations and security groups to do constant rounds of the airport premises to forestall congestion and queuing at critical areas.
The engineering team, on the other hand, was advised to ensure that all critical airport infrastructure and equipment are available and the back-up systems are ready to be deployed for any possible contingencies. Duty personnel were told to conduct round-the-clock inspections to prevent equipment and facility downtimes.
Finally, the security group was directed by Chiong to increase foot patrol for more visibility to deter incidents of petty crimes in public areas. Perimeter patrol will likewise be heightened and proper deployment of personnel shall be observed at all times.
Chiong appealed to passengers to continue observing health protocols when inside enclosed areas such as the terminal buildings. He also emphasized the need for passengers to closely coordinate with the airlines to prepare for the entry requirements that may be required at their destination.
