MIAA justifies proposed $5 terminal security fee

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) yesterday justified the proposed imposition of a $5 security fee stressing that it can no longer cope up with expenses for enhanced security measures at airport terminals.

In a statement, MIAA General Manager Alfonso Cusi said they have been trying to defer the imposition of the security fee unlike other countries, which stepped up their security measures after the 9/11 terror attack in the US.

"But it has come  to a point that our financial resources are no longer able to cope with security expenses, especially now that we are about to embark on our new security program to face looming terror threats.  Hence, we will need the assistance of the public who, after all, are the direct beneficiaries of all the security enhancements," Cusi said.

He said MIAA welcomes inputs provided by International Air Transportation Association (IATA) on the proposed imposition of a US $5 security fee. 

However, MIAA officials clarified  that it is "duty-bound" to conduct public hearings to listen to what the public or concerned groups or individuals have to say.

"There is no question that security is everybody’s concern," Cusi said.

"It came as a surprise when I read the statement from an official of the Airline Operators Council (AOC), that according to IATA, the cost of security enhancements in international airports should be shouldered by the state when in IATA’s written communication to MIAA, it had informed us that it had conducted research and confirmed that there are indeed many airports around the world that impose security fees and that are either charged directly to passengers or are supported by governments."

Based on research and available records, MIAA said a number of airlines have incorporated their own security fees which were added to the ticket price. 

"It seems that IATA and the AOC are both silent on this," Cusi said. 

He also said airline officials should be more circumspect and put matters in the proper perspective in view of the fact that there seems to be a lot of disinformation going on.

He said, in recent years, the cost of security equipment has become really prohibitive.