Airlines moving to NAIA-3 for opening — Piatco

Major international airlines operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have agreed to move to the new passenger terminal in time for its opening next month, the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) announced yesterday.

Moises Tolentino, Piatco vice president for public relations, said five major airline companies have already signed a memorandum of agreement to transfer their operations to the new terminal when it opens on Dec. 15.

Tolentino said Northwest Airlines, Thai Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines and Singapore Airlines have signed the agreement with Piatco to transfer their operations to the new terminal.

All other international airline firms using the old terminal are also preparing to transfer their offices to NAIA 3, Tolentino said.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the five major airline companies specifically stated the space they will occupy at the new terminal, the rentals, and other administrative matters of their operations at the new terminal.

Tolentino said the management and staff of the international airlines are now looking forward to the prospect of transferring to the new terminal citing the more spacious spaces, security measures and more modern facilities it has to offer.

"Piatco welcomes the decision of the major airlines to move to NAIA 3 as it would ensure the full operations of the terminal in time for the launching of the ‘Visit the Philippines Year 2003’ tourism project," he added.

Northwest Airlines likewise announced they would invest in the new facility by deploying of two Boeing 747 airplanes, constructing a new business lounge and a showroom "prototype" of its systems worldwide.

Robert Isom, vice president for international operations of Northwest, pointed out the NAIA 3 operations will enhance their existing cooperative and marketing alliance with local and foreign airlines including Cebu Pacific, Continental Air, Delta Air and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

He said Northwest is also scheduled to increase its regular flights to the Philippines by Dec. 15, coinciding with the opening of NAIA 3.

Tolentino said foreign airline companies were impressed by the new terminal’s multi-layered security set up in utilizing overt and covert security details, bomb-sniffing dogs, numerous security cameras, sensors, more modern X-ray machines and metal detectors.

He said Piatco will be launching early next year its web-based check-in services for flights going to the United States and Europe.

The government is preparing to "take over, if necessary," the operations of the terminal to make sure it opens on schedule, a Malacañang official told The STAR last week.

Malacañang may take that option if the corporate squabble within Piatco is not resolved in time for the scheduled "soft opening," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

German firm Fraport AG owns 30 percent of Piatco. Fraport had asked the government to buy its stake in Piatco for $300 million early this year due to disagreements with its local partner, the Cheng group.