Ninoy Aquino International Airport –‘ Worst airport' no longer?

[ASEAN NOW News]

The latest survey released by travel website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports showed that NAIA is no longer included in the top twenty worst airports in the world, and even in the top five worst airports in Asia for 2017.

 

 

From 2011 to 2013, NAIA was named the world's worst airport according to rappler.com.

 

After several years of being named one of the "worst airports," the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has finally lost that tag.

 

The latest survey released by travel website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports showed that NAIA is no longer included in the top twenty worst airports in the world, and even in the top five worst airports in Asia for 2017.

 

From 2011 to 2013, NAIA was named the world's worst airport. In 2014, it landed in fourth place. It was not included in the top 10 worst airports in the world in 2015, but was ranked 8th worst airport in Asia.

 

NAIA was then named the fifth worst airport in Asia in 2016.

 

The government attributed this development to the resolution of the laglag-bala or bullet-planting scam, where bullets were planted inside unsuspecting passengers' bags in an attempt to extort money from them.

 

"While it is good that we are not listed among the worst, let us work even harder to be included amongst the best," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a recent statement. 

 

No complacency

 

Tugade said the government should not be complacent, as there are several things yet to be improved at NAIA.

 

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal echoed his remarks, saying this result "is only as good as the last race."
 

"The bigger challenge is to maintain or even surpass our achievement," Monreal said.

 

Regional airports

 

Meanwhile, four regional airports in the country again joined the top 25 best airports in Asia for 2017. These are the Iloilo International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Clark International Airport, and Davao International Airport. (READ: DOTr's hits and misses in 1st 100 days: NAIA, EDSA traffic, MRT3)

 

The developments implemented at NAIA during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte include the restriction on general aviation to prioritize commercial flights and reduce flight delays; the imposition of the 5-minute rule to reduce flight delays; as well as the construction of rapid exit taxiways.

 

During his 1st week in office, Tugade had agreed to let local airlines undertake the maintenance of public restrooms at NAIA's 4 terminals – at no cost to the government. 

 

Tugade had also asked help from the country's two telecommunications giants, PLDT Incorporated and Globe Telecom Incorporated, to set up free Wi-Fi in all airports. 

 

Personal Experience

 

My own two visits to NAIA were back in 2017, in busy pre covid days.

 

All I remember then, was the line to check in on Philippines Airlines to return to Bangkok, was taking up to three hours to just check in. And many locals were ignoring the queuing systems and going to the counters.

 

It was chaos and certainly did not endure passengers to wanting to return to the airport or even Philippines.

 

Now I am sure it is a lot more up to date now.

 

Let all our expat viewers know about your own experiences, or even maybe some tips to avoid delays at NAIA?

 

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