NAIA still among world’s worst

MANILA, Philippines - With its poor facilities, long queues and “impolite” staff and officials, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was again ranked as one of the world’s 10 worst airports.

An ANC report said the ranking was made by US website The Cheat Sheet, which held that the airport – designed for six million passengers – is unsurprisingly unable to accommodate more than 32 million people who use its facilities every year.

“This Manila-based airport struggles with the 32 million passengers who use its facility each year. That shouldn’t come as a shock, though, considering it only has the capacity for six million passengers, according to CNBC,” it said.

Travelers have complained of discourteous airport staff despite the Filipinos’ being known for their hospitality.

But The Cheat Sheet said ongoing upgrades and renovations at the NAIA provide the “good news.”

NAIA earned the notoriety of being one of the worst airports in the world in 2013 based on a survey by travel website Sleeping In Airports. The website asked travelers to rank airports based on comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service.

The government earlier said it hopes to complete the NAIA upgrade in April next year and appealed to the public for understanding while renovation is in progress.

The Cheat Sheet’s list also includes Charles De Gaulle in Paris, Los Angeles International Airport, Italy’s Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport, New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Zurich International in Switzerland, Chad’s N’Djamena International Airport, Russia’s Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Arkansas, and India’s Calcutta Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.