International airlines seek refuge in RP

An organization representing several international airlines has requested the Philippine government’s permission for overnight berthing rights before its planes fly back to Hong Kong so as to avoid contamination of a deadly virus sweeping the former British colony, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said.

MIAA general manager Edgardo Manda said possibly all or several airlines belonging to the Airline Operators Council (AOC) unloading passengers at Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok airport would be proceeding to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 before flying back to the former Crown Colony to pick up passengers the following day.

At the same time, Manda sought the help of experts to find out if luggage coming from countries infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are carriers of the virus.

In a statement, he appealed to medical experts to check if there is a need to isolate suitcases of passengers arriving from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and Canada and other SARS-positive countries to prevent a SARS outbreak in the Philippines.

On board each aircraft seeking overnight berthing rights are 15 to 20 crew members who will stay in local hotels, Manda said.

He said about six flights of different aircraft per day for an indefinite period of time would be allowed to land and stay in the country overnight.

The following day, the aircraft and crew would fly back to Hong Kong for their next flight to different destinations.

Manda was scheduled to meet yesterday with government officials including Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon regarding plans to allow these airlines to land and stay overnight at the NAIA.

Government agencies including the MIAA, Department of Tourism (DOT), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Air Transportation Office (ATO) would have to discuss the matter before reaching a decision, he said.

Manda said the MIAA also plans to recommend bringing down the landing fees to be charged the airlines by as much as 50 percent, as requested by the AOC.

Though flight frequency has gone down especially in the country, Manila could still incur additional income through fees to be charged these foreign airlines, he said.

On the other hand, Manda revealed that some airlines have cut back on their flights mainly due to the SARS scare as well as Gulf War 2, not only to the Philippines but also to other countries worldwide.

Manda at the same time urged a medical study to check if luggage can also be a SARS carrier.

He said the advice for doctors and nurses to change their uniforms after handling suspected SARS patients is an indication that even personal effects can transmit the virus.

"We have to act fast on this. There will be a bulk of returning overseas contract workers during the Holy Week," he said.

In another development, Manda said reports citing that there is a possibility that NAIA terminal 3 would be operational by August this year is still speculative pending a Supreme Court decision.

But he was optimistic the ruling would be favorable to the government. "If we fast-track all preparations, it (NAIA 3) would be operational by August," he said.