British Firm Tapped To Ease Traffic Congestion At NAIA

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is tapping the consultancy services of British air traffic management expert NATS to maximize the runway and ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a statement yesterday, the DOTC said it awarded the P66-million NAIA Runway Optimization project to the joint venture of NATS Services Ltd. and Schema Konsult Inc.

Under the 12-month contract, the group will be tasked to increase hourly air traffic movements (ATMs) to 60 from 40 by determining the optimal configuration for the airport’s intersecting runways.

The road map for short- and long-term improvements will focus on the optimization of runway capacity by cutting aircraft’s occupancy times, developing air traffic controllers’ (ATC) surveillance capabilities, as well as maximization of available airspace by reducing restrictions and making procedural improvements to tighten intervals between aircraft movements.

In the first six months, NATS will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the airport’s current airspace, runway and terminal capacities; air traffic and surface operations; runway access points and ATC training.

Over the next six months, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will then implement the recommended improvement measures.

Earlier, MIAA and CAAP implemented certain steps to help ease runway congestion such as the reactivation of Runway 31 and the relocation of general aviation activities.

Source: Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star)

CAAP: Refurbishing of Legazpi Airport Done

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — The refurbishing of the Legazpi International Airport passenger terminal has been completed, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced Thursday.

The terminal, which cost P40 million to upgrade, now boasts improvements that make it environment-friendly, such as wide glass walls that allow natural light to illuminate the interior, reducing electricity use while offering a view of the runway back-dropped by iconic Mayon Volcano. It also has wider spaces, including separate international arrival and pre-departure areas, and enough seats to accommodate more than 500 passengers at a given time.

The terminal also houses the offices of the Bureau of Immigration, Customs and Human/Plant Quarantine and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The improvement of the Legazpi airport terminal was funded by revenues generated by the CAAP.

The airport can accommodate medium-sized commercial jets and military aircraft on its single runway.

It currently handles eight regular flights of Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and CebGo (Tiger Air) from Manila and Cebu, as well as international charters, mostly from China.

Although operating as a sunrise-sunset facility due to the ongoing improvement and installation of its instrument landing system, the airport can handle night landings and take-offs upon prior notice.

Asked why the terminal was refurbished when the new South Luzon, or Bicol International Airport, is being built and expected to be completed in the next five years, Cynthia Tumanut, the manager of Area Center V and Legazpi airport said they “could not just sit and watch with blank face at the difficulties and discomforts being experienced by passengers due to cramped space and insufficient vents system of the old passenger terminal.”

Area Center V covers the Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, Sorsogon, Virac, Bulan and Daet airports.

Source: Eric B. Apolonio, InterAksyon.com

What PH’s NAIA should learn from SG’s Changi Airport

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Singapore are both exhausting all means to prepare for a borderless economic community by the end of the year, and one of these is through airport expansion projects to advance their global profiles. (READ: #SG50: Why Singapore is a model for global competitiveness)

Similarities, however, end there.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippines’ main international gateway, is feeling its age. Constructed for a different time of air travel, NAIA swells with congestion in its terminals, where 34.1 million passengers passed through last year. This was above its handling capacity of 28 million passengers annually.

Overcrowding, lengthy queues, limited seating, and smelly toilets are among the grievances of travellers passing through NAIA, dubbed the 4th world’s worst airport by website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports.

On the other hand, travellers passing through Singapore’s Changi International Airport lauded its accommodating staff, array of activities for transit travellers, and uncrowded terminals.

Last year, Changi handled more than 54 million passengers, way below its handling capacity of 66 million.

It was also in 2014 when Changi International Airport has been voted the best airport in the world by The Guide to Sleeping in Airports — its 18th consecutive year.

Figures from the Manila International Airport Authority and Changi Airport Group

Improve service levels

If there is one thing NAIA should learn from Changi, Philippine Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said “it should be run like a hotel.”

“There should be an attention to detail, and the importance of customer service and efficiency should be a main priority,” Abaya told Rappler.

Unlike NAIA, Changi boasts numerous wonders to entertain and attract spending – from a host of shops and a roof-top swimming pool, an aviation expert who works for Deloitte India said in an interview.

“From time to time, Changi comes up with promotions for shopping if you fly in and out of the airport; while NAIA may charge you for breathing if they could,” the aviation expert who requested anonymity said.

Changi, according to the source, revealed much about how NAIA could give travellers what they want without lots of floor space.

The size of an airport is not a limitation to achieve smooth and efficient operations, says a Changi Airport official.

“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,” Changi Airport Vice-President Jose Pantangco said during his visit to the Philippines in 2011.

USER EXPERIENCE. “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,” Changi Airport Vice-President Jose Pantangco says during his visit to the Philippines in 2011. Changi social tree image from Changi Airport website

Enhance user experience

NAIA can learn something from Changi through its user experience-based business model, the source said.

Changi’s efforts to erase the effects of dated infrastructure is something NAIA should emulate from Singapore’s main international gateway, the source said.

These efforts include “continuous upgrades to its existing terminals and building new facilities to maintain its reputation for setting standards in airport service quality.”

Although the number of passengers passing through Changi is far from its estimated capacity of 66 million passengers, airport officials are implementing projects to stay far ahead of demand.

Singapore’s fourth passenger terminal is set to be operational in 2017, along with completion of an airport hotel expansion project They are also in the process of planning for a fifth terminal.

According to Changi Airport Group, it is also set to open a 5-story indoor garden and shopping mall, named Jewel Changi Airport – featuring 5 levels of hiking trails and a 46-foot-tall “rain vortex” waterfall.

For the Philippines, it has started implementing airport public-private partnership (PPP) projects, seeking assistance from private investors to expand, operate, and maintain the key airports in the country.

“We’re pursuing airport PPP projects wherein private sector is allowed to operate and maintain, even expand our key airports – like those in Mactan, Cebu, and Manila,” Abaya said.

The contstruction of the Philippines’ first airport PPP deal — a new terminal at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) – started on June 29 this year.

The P74.56-billion ($1.65-billion) NAIA development project is seen to transform the Philippines’ main international gateway into a “world-class modern airport facility” and is seen to be rolled out within the year, Abaya said.

The Philippine government has also implemented projects to upgrade NAIA terminals.

The P1.3 billion ($28.85 million) NAIA Terminal 1 rehabilitation project, which involves structural retrofitting and other engineering works, is ongoing and is scheduled to normalize operations within the year.

The P1.9 billion ($42.17 million) rehabilitation of NAIA Terminal 3 by Takenaka Corporation of Japan has been completed and 5 foreign airlines have already transferred to the newest terminal.

In April this year, President Benigno Aquino III hailed the renovations to the Philippines’ main international airport, expressing optimism it would soon shake off its ranking on one website as the world’s worst airport. (READ: Aquino says ‘worst airport’ now looking much better)

Almost a year after he personally apologized for the failure of air-conditioning at NAIA Terminal 1, Aquino said the facility appeared to be completely different. “It’s like I have entered a completely different airport,” he told reporters as he inspected the 34-year-old terminal during the Holy Week travel season this year.

During the February 2015 announcement of the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge at NAIA 3 (which opened in July), Abaya acknowledged that Singapore is a gateway of European investors and tourists to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), which the Philippines is part of.

As such, the Philippines should avail more of this opportunity, he earlier said.

“Changi should be the best airport of the Philippines as Boracay should be the best beach of Singapore,” Abaya said.

Source:

Philippine Airlines To Fly CEB-LAX in 2016

MANILA, Philippines – People in the Visayas and Mindanao can soon fly to the United States without passing through Manila once flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) begins its direct flights to Los Angeles from Cebu.

PAL will launch non-stop flights between the central Philippine city and Los Angeles in the first quarter of 2016, as part of the airline’s US route expansion. “Our customers in the Visayas and Mindanao have long clamored for direct flights between Cebu and the US due to the travel convenience this will bring,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime Bautista said in a statement released by the airline.

He added, “One can simply take a short hop to Cebu from any point in the Visayas and Mindanao and connect to Los Angeles, instead of flying all the way to Manila.”

PAL said the Cebu-Los Angeles flights will start on March 15, 2016 – PAL’s 75th founding anniversary – using its 254-seater Airbus A340, equipped with both business and economy class seats.

Flights will be thrice weekly, PAL said. This new route will be the airline’s 38th weekly flight to the United States and its territories, and will be the 34th international flight originating from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. From Cebu, PAL also flies to Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, and Tokyo’s Narita airport.

Source: Rappler.com

Qatar Airways Adds 6 More Flights Per Week To Manila

Qatar Airways (QA) will be adding six extra flights per week between Doha and Manila from October 26 following an expanded Air Service Agreement signed between Qatar and the Philippines.

With the increase in weekly flights, QA will operate a full twice-daily service to Manila in addition to its daily flights between Clark International Airport (approximately 96km north of Manila) and Doha.

The additional weekly flights from Doha-Manila from October 26 include: Doha – Manila which departs 8.30am and arrives 10.15pm while the Manila – Doha flight departs 11.59pm and arrives 5.05am (the next day), all every Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday already has an existing twice-daily QA flight.

The Doha-based carrier, most recently crowned Airline of the Year at the 2015 annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, is currently flying eight flights per week to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

“The increase in flight frequencies on the Doha–Manila route serves to further strengthen commercial and trade links between our two countries and we are delighted to be able to provide our Philippines-based passengers with greater connectivity options when they choose to fly with QA,” QA Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said.

He noted that more passengers will now be able to experience QA’s award-winning hospitality and Qatar’s state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport (HIA) when transiting seamlessly onward to their final destination.

Al-Baker added that passengers travelling with QA beyond Doha can also look forward to flying on some of the world’s most advanced aircraft including the A350 XWB.

The Doha–Manila route is operated by Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring 24 Business Class seats and 356 seats in Economy Class.

Like its Manila flights, QA also continues to get positive response to its daily flights in Clark (Clark International Airport), launched in November 2013, it is learnt.

Passengers travelling in Business Class can look forward to relaxing in one of the most comfortable and high-tech, fully-flat beds with a 78-inch seat pitch. QA’s premium passengers can also enjoy its five-star food and beverage service which is served ‘dine on demand’.

QA’s Premium and Economy Class passengers travelling beyond Doha can also enjoy the airline’s state-of-the-art home base – the HIA.

Home to one of the world’s best and largest Business Class lounges, the Al Mourjan Business Lounge, HIA has more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets offering world-class duty free shopping and dining experiences for all.

Source:

NAIA Terminal 4 Will Be Exclusive For Domestic Flights By Mid-August

BY mid-August the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 4 will go all domestic with the transfer of international flights to a much bigger facility.

According to Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officer-in-charge Vicente Guerzon Jr., by August 15 Air Asia Zest international flights will be moved to the bigger NAIA terminal 3 from terminal 4.

Also set to transfer to Terminal 3 are five Cebu Pacific-Tiger Airways Airbuses.

From NAIA Terminal 3, seven small aircraft offering 20 domestic flights will move to Terminal 4.

The move, drafted two months ago, is expected to reduce confusion among passengers as to which terminal they are supposed to go.

Likewise, Guerzon said that the move would maximize the use of runway 13/31 for small aircraft arriving at or departing from the NAIA terminal 4.

The 400-hectare NAIA currently has two perpendicular runways: primary runway 06/24; and secondary runway 13/31.

Source: Jeannette Andrade, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tycoons To Join NAIA Rehab Bidding

The Gokongwei family’s JG Summit Holdings, Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Ayala Corp. are keen on a P75-billion contract to operate and develop Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the country’s busiest air gateway that has been dubbed the “crown jewel” of Philippine airport deals.

The Naia development project recently hurdled the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee. Seeking the approval of the Neda board, which is chaired by President Aquino, is the next step.

Interest in the premier gateway has been ramping up partly due to recent statements coming from the transportation department that work at a new international airport in Sangley Point, Cavite—a project aimed at replacing the congested Naia— might not be implemented within the term of President Aquino.

Earlier, San Miguel Corp., Manuel V. Pangillinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Megawide Construction Corp. said they were keen on a contract to operate NAIA, which handles more than 32 million passengers annually.

“It is ‘the’ asset in the airport sector so we should definitely look at that,” Ayala managing director John Eric Francia said. “It’s a major strategic asset in a very important sector which affects a lot of things like tourism.”

Bach Johann Sebastian, JG Summit chief strategist and senior vice president, confirmed in a text message that the company was interested in the Naia project, as did Román Azanza III, Aboitiz first vice president for business development.

JG Summit, mainly involved in airlines, property development, food and beverage as well as petrochemicals, and Aboitiz Equity, whose portfolio is mainly focused on power generation and banking, have been looking at more Public Private Partnership (PPP) infrastructure deals to diversify their respective businesses.

Ayala, San Miguel, Metro Pacific and Megawide are active participants in the Aquino administration’s PPP program, having each bagged one or more big-ticket deals that have been rolled out over the last four years.

The Naia development project aims to transform the Philippines’ main gateway “into a world-class modern airport facility.” The private partner is also expected to upgrade existing terminals to increase capacity and handle O&M activities.

The companies mentioned have already expressed their interest in developing the country’s commercial aviation sector, which presents opportunities for growth given that the Philippines is an archipelago.

On international travel, the government has been boosting efforts to lure more visitors with catchy slogans like “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

In 2013, the conglomerates participated in a bid for the contract to expand and operate the Mactan Cebu International Airport, which was bagged by a consortium between Megawide and India’s GMR Infrastructure.

The government is currently bidding out the contracts for the Bacolod-Silay, Iloilo, Davao, Laguindingan and New Bohol airports in a deal that has lured SMC, Metro Pacific, Aboitiz, JG Summit and Megawide apart from international players.

Source: Miguel R. Camus, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pictogram: Cathay Pacific Lounge, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge (photo: Singapore Airlines), Terminal 3, Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Photo: Asia Tatler

Photo: Joven Cagande)

Photo: Adobo Magazine

Photo: Asia Tatler

Cathay Pacific Lounge, Terminal 3, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (photo: Cathay Pacific, floor area: 650 sqm)

Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge, Terminal 2, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (floor area: 520 sqm)

Iloilo In Talks For Air Service To Incheon & Xiamen

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City government is in talks with carrier AirAsia Philippines over the possibility of offering flights to the South Korean gateway of Incheon and Xiamen in China, the Tourism department said.

The push for more connectivity comes as the city hosts meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) this year, raising the region’s profile among international tourists, the Department of Tourism in Region 6 (DoT-6) said

“With Iloilo’s hosting of the APEC meetings this July, September and October, we do hope that more visitors will be coming in from the 21-member economies of APEC that will impact our number of flights and hotel accommodation,” said lawyer Helen J. Catalbas, DoT-6 director.

Ms. Catalbas said Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog is currently leading talks with AirAsia Philippines, Inc. with the aim of launching services next year.

South Korea and China are both APEC members, along with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States,and Vietnam.

For domestic flights, Ms. Catalbas said she has participated in discussions for the introduction of flights between Iloilo and Cotabato.

“For Mindanao, our flights for Davao, General Santos and Cagayan de Oro are going strong. We are looking at adding Cotabato. What is important is we can sustain the flights,” she said.

The airport’s current local routes include Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa, General Santos, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

The Iloilo International Airport, located in the town of Cabatuan, will be bid out for upgrade works under the public-private partnership (PPP) program. The contract cost is P30.4 billion covering expansion, operation and maintenance over a 30-year period.

It is part of the PPP airport Bundle 1 that includes the Bacolod-Silay Airport with an indicative cost of P20.26 billion.

Prospective bidders, based on the PPP Center Web site, include GMR Infrastructure Ltd.-Megawide Construction Corp., the Metro Pacific Investments Corp.-JG Summit Holdings, Inc. consortium, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, San Miguel Corp., Philippine Skylanders, Inc., and Union Equities, Inc.

The submission of qualification documents has been moved to Aug. 10 from July 27.

Source: Louine Hope Conserva, http://www.bworldonline.com

The New(ly) Renovated Duty Free Philippines @ NAIA Terminal 1

State-owned Duty Free Philippines (DFP) recently unveiled its renovated Departure and Arrival duty-free stores at Ninoy Aquino International airport (NAIA) new terminal one in Pasay City.

DFP’s duty-free outlets in NAIA T3 also underwent major renovations to cater to the increase in passenger traffic due to the relocation of major airlines such as Delta, KLM Royal Dutch, Emirates, Singapore Air and Cathay Pacific.

World-renowned design team Sounda Design Inc. led by architect Frederic Chevassus and designer Philippe Larosse transformed the perfumes, cosmetics and fashion areas’ into an elegant and more functional space adopting an aerodynamic concept using aircraft details, such as a plane’s wings and propeller, as inspirations. The new layout aims to project the airport outlet as inviting from all sides of the store perimeter, drawing the target customer into the interior. Sounda Design Inc. is based in Taiwan and Hong Kong and specializes in architectural planning, interior design and construction.

The stores were redesigned to achieve a more attractive, dynamic and functional retail environment to cater to the discerning taste of its shoppers, made up of international travelers, tourists and balikbayans (arriving Filipino residents).

Along with thestores’ cutting-edge design, state-of-the-art interiors and amenities, DFP has also assembled an impressive line-up of the world’s best travel-retail brands that cater to international travelers.

Top perfumery, cosmetics and fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Estee Lauder, Lancome, Bulgari, Christian Dior, Clinique, Clarins, L’Occitane, La Prairie, SK-II and Lacoste are expected to attract both new and loyal customers.  The other highly in-demand duty free product categories still house the usual best-selling brands; such as Cadbury, Hershey’s, M&M’s, Toblerone and Nestle for confectionery, Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Jack Daniels, Hennessy, Ballantines,  Remy Martin and Macallan for liquor and spirits;  Michael Kors, Anne Klein, Skagen, Cerruti and Armani for watches; among many others.

A special “brand experience” awaits jet-setters as  luxury fashion boutiques feature at both terminals, specifically Coach, Salvatore Ferragamo, Longchamp, and Chloe. Aside from these designer brands of top quality leather goods and fashion accessories, DFP also houses an extensive range of the popular Kiehl’s beauty products while a Pandora boutique, is set to open soon.

“Store development and product expansion are endeavors perennially on DFP’s priority list. Aside from meeting the high standards of its target customers, these ensure that DFP stores keep pace with the dynamism and sophistication of the international travel-retail industry,” the retailer said in a statement.

DFP is an attached agency of the country’s Tourism Department and its earnings accrue to the DOT to help support the Philippines’ tourism infrastructure, programs and projects.

Source: Kapila Gohel, http://www.dfnionline.com