Wazzup Pilipinas!
The Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) and the Manila International Airport Authority’s (MIAA) efforts to erase the infrastructure backlog at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have started to pay off, as the country’s premiere gateway is no longer listed among the world’s worst airports, according to online travel site Guide to Sleeping in Airports (www.sleepinginairports.net).
“While we are pleased to hear that international travelers no longer rate NAIA among the world’s worst, there is obviously still a lot for us to do. Having fully opened Terminal 3 and substantially refurbishing Terminal 1 after decades of neglect, our next focus is decongesting the runway,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.
Erasing NAIA’s Infrastructure Backlog
It took around 2 years from 2011 to 2013 to unravel the legal complications which prevented Terminal 3 from fully operating, but its resolution paved the way for the transfer of 3.5 million annual passengers from the run-down, overcapacity Terminal 1 to the more modern Terminal 3 building in 2014.
With Terminal 1 restored to its design capacity of 4.5 million yearly passengers, major rehabilitation was undertaken beginning in 2014, most notably through structural retrofitting which ensured the continued safety and integrity of the facility, and the improvement of the mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems.
Architectural works were also performed, considerably reimaging the airport with a sleeker look and better services. The improvements include: