MIAA: NAIA loses P200 million amid flight suspensions
Aviation Updates Philippines – Due to the plunging travel demand brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) reportedly lost around P200 million pesos, five weeks into the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, in an interview with DZMM, revealed the country’s gateway airport reported a significant loss based on the agency’s latest data from two weeks ago.
“We’re still afloat. Nararamdaman ho namin pero wala ho tayong magagawa dahil yan po ang talagang ating dapat gawin. We’re still sustaining a few more operations na ginagawa ho ng selected airlines. (We feel the effects of the pandemic in our operations. However, there’s nothing else we can do. We’re still sustaining operations from select airlines though).”
“Minsan ho, there are only about five commercial flights. Umaabot pinakamarami siguro kung minsan mga siyam. ‘Yun lang po ang operations natin ng commercial operations sa Terminal 1 (Sometimes, there are only around five to nine commercial flights per day. Those are the only operations we’ve got in Terminal 1),” Monreal added.
Luzon island, NAIA’s area of coverage, is currently under the enhanced community quarantine. The quarantine protocols limit the movement of people, such as air transportation, to lessen the transmission of the virus across the country.
Since the implementation of the quarantine in select areas, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia, among others, announced the suspension of all domestic and international commercial operations until April 30, 2020. However, these airlines have resorted to cargo-operations to assist in the government’s efforts to control COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the MIAA also ordered the closure of Terminals 2, 3, and 4 in a bid to reduce airport personnel on-site, and to alleviate airport management costs. The agency has designated Terminal 1 as the only operational passenger terminal building for all flights.
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| Photo from Patrick Dariagan |
“We’re still afloat. Nararamdaman ho namin pero wala ho tayong magagawa dahil yan po ang talagang ating dapat gawin. We’re still sustaining a few more operations na ginagawa ho ng selected airlines. (We feel the effects of the pandemic in our operations. However, there’s nothing else we can do. We’re still sustaining operations from select airlines though).”
“Minsan ho, there are only about five commercial flights. Umaabot pinakamarami siguro kung minsan mga siyam. ‘Yun lang po ang operations natin ng commercial operations sa Terminal 1 (Sometimes, there are only around five to nine commercial flights per day. Those are the only operations we’ve got in Terminal 1),” Monreal added.
Luzon island, NAIA’s area of coverage, is currently under the enhanced community quarantine. The quarantine protocols limit the movement of people, such as air transportation, to lessen the transmission of the virus across the country.
Since the implementation of the quarantine in select areas, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Philippines AirAsia, among others, announced the suspension of all domestic and international commercial operations until April 30, 2020. However, these airlines have resorted to cargo-operations to assist in the government’s efforts to control COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the MIAA also ordered the closure of Terminals 2, 3, and 4 in a bid to reduce airport personnel on-site, and to alleviate airport management costs. The agency has designated Terminal 1 as the only operational passenger terminal building for all flights.
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