PAL offers to expand NAIA 2 for P20B

  • Page Views 1648
  • Philippine Airlines (PAL) is eyeing to expand the existing Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at a cost of P20 billion ($400 million) extending the existing terminal to include adjacent properties of the Philippine Village Hotel, formerly Nayong Pilipino, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

    Jaime Bautista, PAL president, in a   presentation at the Management Association of the Philippines  membership meeting yesterday, showed an architect’s perspective of its  proposed annex building which would be designed to handle 12 to 15 million passengers per year.

    The proposed terminal would have aerobridges capable of serving 12 to 17 wide-bodied and single aisle jets.

    PAL operations in other NAIA terminals will then be transferred to the new facility that is eyed to be completed by 2020.

    Bautista said NAIA Terminal 2 which PAL has been using exclusively since 1999, has far exceeded its maximum capacity as it was originally built as a domestic airport during the Ramos administration, servicing 42 million passengers a year compared to its capacity of 30 million passengers.

    The planned 89,000-square meter air terminal, equivalent to 200 basketball courts north of NAIA 2, would help decongest the airport and provide PAL passengers much-deserved space, amenities and modern conveniences, Bautista said.

    Aside from the passenger terminal, the complex will include multi-level parking for 1,000 vehicles, a new cargo terminal and ground service facilities.

    The facility will rise on a 16-hectare area adjacent to NAIA 2, comprising of the now-defunct Philippine Village Hotel, the former Nayong Pilipino complex and a property owned by Pagcor.

    Bautista said PAL — which currently operates at NAIA 1, 2, and 3 for some of its domestic flights – will consolidate all its operation to NAIA 2 and its annex building which would provide  adequate room for its growing fleet of jets and international and domestic passengers.

    From its current fleet of 87-wide bodied and single aisle jets, PAL expects its aircraft count to reach 96 by 2021.

    Bautista, however, said it needs full government support for the project, especially in securing crucial land leases from agencies like the Manila International Airport Authority  and Pagcor.

    “We also need government to continuously invest in building, developing, enhancing and upgrading airport infrastructure, not just for NAIA but all throughout the country, as PAL and other airlines out up more flights ad open new routes in our race for a thriving economic future,” he said.

    Bautista said PAL is open for partnership should there be a party interested to join the carrier on the venture.

    Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Department of Transportation undersecretary for Aviation and Airports, said the agency is now following government procedure, including the possibility of the project being treated as an unsolicited proposal.

    “It’s  not a simple plan of leasing… there is a plan to build a new terminal,” Tamayo said.

    Bautista  said PAL had been doing its share to help decongest NAIA while stimulating air travel to the Philippines.

    “We’re already building up a new network of local and regional flights from Clark, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Davo, Caticland, and Kalibo,” he said, adding that PAL continues to invest in the latest technology to speed up passenger processing and aircraft turnaround times.

    (R. A Castro, Malaya)

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • Photo by the Canadian Armed Forces.
      14 November 2024
      5 hours ago No comment

      How Filipinos contribute to Canada’s diverse military

      As one of the biggest racialized populations in Canada, Filipinos are helping build a diverse and inclusive society. Filipinos are found in almost every aspect of life in the country, including the military. In the lead-up to this year’s commemoration of Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week, Statistics Canada on ...

    • 07 November 2024
      1 week ago No comment

      Marcos congratulates Trump

      President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has congratulated Donald Trump for winning the November 5, 2024 U.S. presidential election. “President Trump has won, and the American people have triumphed. I congratulate them on their victory in an exercise that showed the world the strength of American values,” Marcos ...

    • Pope Francis addresses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter's square during the Angelus prayer on October 27, 2024 in The Vatican.
      04 November 2024
      1 week ago No comment

      Pope prays for Kristine victims in Philippines

      MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis has offered prayers for Filipinos affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. At Sunday’s Angelus address at the Vatican, the 87-year-old pontiff reportedly mentioned praying for the victims of Kristine. “I am close to the population of the Philippines, struck by a powerful cyclone. May ...

    • 04 November 2024
      1 week ago No comment

      Duterte: no apology, no excuses for drug war

      Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 28, 2024 offered no apologies or excuses for his actions as he faced a Senate investigation into his widely criticized bloody war on drugs for the first time. Before reading his prepared statement during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, ...

    • 24 October 2024
      3 weeks ago No comment

      Marcos-Duterte feud: “now a fight to the finish”

      The raging spat between the two most powerful political dynasties in the Philippines isn’t showing signs of letting up. As one political observer noted, the fight between the camps of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and erstwhile ally Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio has reached a point of no return. “This ...