Less congestion seen at NAIA next year

A congestion-free international airport by 2003.

This was the firm guarantee of the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (PIATCO), the builder and operator of the new international passenger terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), as numerous passengers including vacationing overseas Filipino workers encountered problems due to congestion in the present terminal during the holiday season.

PIATCO spokesman Moises Tolentino Jr. said the new terminal’s 200,000 square meter-floor area is designed to serve at least 13 million passengers per year and can accommodate at least 6,000 passengers in peak hours.

"This will enable NAIA to cope with the increasing number of passengers to and from the Philippines," Tolentino said.

The PIATCO representative said that the 65-hectare world-class facility can also accommodate 28 airplanes at any given time. Featuring state-of-the-art design and technology, the new terminal is more than double the size of the existing 20-year old NAIA 1, which currently handles about seven million passengers annually, he added.

Tolentino said that arriving in the country’s main gateway would now be hassle-free with air-bridges leading to the arrival concourse and on to immigration counter. After claiming their luggage on either of seven large carousels, passengers will meet their greeters in the fully air-conditioned arrival hall.

"Keeping in mind Filipino practice of welcoming and sending off guests and relatives, the terminal building is calculated to accommodate statistically five greeters or well-wishers of every passenger," he said.

In addition to the car park building at the south of the terminal head house which can hold 2,000 cars, surface parking for 1,000 vehicles will be available in front of the terminal.

Tolentino also assured that all this will be coordinated with the improvement of the access road system leading to and from the airport, providing better thoroughfares connecting from Metro Manila’s business and residential districts and from provincial road networks within Southern Luzon.