Government resets NAIA-3 opening to November

After failing to meet its self-imposed deadline, the government now hopes to finally open the mothballed new terminal of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in November.

The Arroyo administration had hoped to begin operating the sprawling facility in June. It took over the NAIA Terminal 3 from Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco), the consortium that built it.

The Manila International Airport Authority will sign two out-of-court agreements with Japanese construction firm Takenaka Corp. this month that will clear the way for preparations on the terminal to begin.

"The two agreements would be ready for signing by the second week of July," an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The STAR.

"Once these two agreements are signed, our estimate is within the next three to four months, or by November, we can open NAIA-3 to full commercial operations," the official said.

The government failed to meet its self-imposed June deadline because of its legal dispute with Piatco over the terminal. It was expropriated by the government in December after a court order was issued.

Piatco, which is contesting the expropriation in court, had threatened to sue airlines and other businesses that set up operations at the terminal while the case is ongoing, causing delays in the opening of the terminal.

The government is trying to secure the services of Takenaka, a Piatco subcontractor, which has the blueprints of the terminal.

Takenaka initially hesitated, however, because of the unresolved legal dispute.

The new terminal was completed in 2002 but its opening had been delayed by a squabble between Piatco and its German partner, giant airport operator Fraport AG.

The facility was further delayed that year when President Arroyo abrogated Piatco’s government contract over the terminal, citing anomalies.

In 2003, the Supreme Court nullified the contract, saying Piatco was not qualified to bid for it and that one-sided provisions in its favor were inserted after the contract was signed.

That prompted the government to seek court permission to take over the terminal.

In December, Pasay City regional trial court judge Henrick Gingoyon granted the government’s petition to expropriate the terminal.