New NAIA operator urged: Don’t pass on rehab cost to Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — Another consumer advocacy group has opposed the proposed increase in passenger service charges (PSC) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), scoring the move to pass on rehabilitation cost to travelers.

Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) yesterday joined growing calls to stop the looming hike in airport fees in NAIA, scheduled to take effect within the year.

BK3 secretary-general Patrick Climaco claimed that by increasing the service fees in NAIA prior to any upgrade, the concessionaire is passing on the cost of rehabilitation to consumers.

“It is unacceptable that Filipinos using the airport will have to immediately pay higher fees even before seeing any improvement in the airport. Many Filipinos who use the airport are those who sacrifice to be away from their family to work abroad or [those] who were able to save a little to go on a short vacation to rest,” Climaco said.

“Now that the government has chosen a concessionaire from the private sector, why is the capital expenses needed to fix the airport going to be advanced by passengers?” Climaco said.

In June, CitizenWatch Philippines, led by former legislator Jose Christopher Belmonte, called on the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to terminate its plan of adjusting NAIA fees as soon as operations and maintenance are turned over to the winning bidder.

CitizenWatch Philippines warned that hiking airport fees, particularly the PSC, could discourage Filipinos and foreigners from traveling the archipelago.

Recently, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has confirmed that airport charges may begin going up by the end of this year, and airlines will be the first to take a hit. Based on the proposed timetable, landing and takeoff fees will be increased in 2024 and PSC will be raised in 2025.

If realized, the PSC will be adjusted to P950 for international passengers, from P550 at present, while the rate will be pushed up to P390 for domestic travelers, from P200 currently. MIAA will issue an administrative order listing all of the price hikes.

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp., led by San Miguel Corp., will take over the operations and maintenance of NAIA in September.

To recall, the consortium won the P170.6 billion deal to rehabilitate one of the worst airports in the world, and will get a minimum of 15 years to prepare its facilities for future demand.