The private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has forged a partnership with flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), as it looks to maintain the best service standards for airlines operating in the country’s primary gateway.

In a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 25, New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) said it has entered into an Airport Use Agreement (AUA) with PAL to establish a governance framework for the carrier’s operations at NAIA.

The AUA sets out the respective responsibilities of PAL and NNIC when it comes to the use of airport facilities and infrastructure, including measures to address failures to meet agreed standards.

The agreement outlines key performance indicators aimed at improving operational efficiency and aligning airline operations with the service levels that NNIC must meet under its concession agreement with the government.

NNIC, a consortium led by conglomerate San Miguel Corp., is tasked with improving the overall passenger experience at NAIA through modern terminals, optimized airport capacity, and reliable operations.

Through the AUA, NNIC intends to ensure reliable operations by supporting PAL’s day-to-day operations across the airport’s terminals while also improving coordination in moving passengers, baggage, and aircraft.

For those flying to and from NAIA, NNIC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramon Ang said the agreement would mean that travelers can now expect PAL’s operations to be more efficient and dependable.

“This agreement gives us a clearer framework for setting expectations, measuring performance and working together to maintain consistent service standards,” he said.

Meanwhile, PAL Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lucio Tan III said the agreement further strengthens NNIC’s efforts to modernize NAIA into a world-class airport.

“This is a positive development for both PAL and NNIC, and ultimately for our passengers. It supports the continuing modernization of NAIA and our collective goal of delivering a better airport experience,” he said.

By establishing common performance requirements, NNIC said it would be able to better monitor service levels and initiate corrective action when operational problems occur.

At present, flight services at NAIA depend on several organizations performing their roles on time and in sequence, meaning that any disruption in even a single area of operations could lead to a delay that may also affect other flights.

As such, NNIC said the AUA with PAL is just the first of many agreements it plans to sign with other carriers operating at NAIA.

The operator also said it would take a similar approach in its agreements with ground-handling and other service providers to ensure consistency across all functions at the airport.

“These arrangements are aligned with existing government regulations and NNIC’s obligations under the NAIA concession,” it said.

Under its ₱170.6-billion concession to modernize NAIA, NNIC has been improving terminal facilities, airport systems, and passenger amenities to address long-standing capacity and operational constraints.

NNIC is upgrading the gateway to expand its annual passenger capacity to 62 million from the current 35 million.