MANILA -- The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is eyeing to increase the terminal fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by April next year to fund ongoing improvements of its facilities.
The MIAA is proposing a PHP200-terminal fee hike for international flights and PHP100 for domestic flights.
Terminal fee for international flights will be pegged at PHP750 from PHP550 and PHP300 for domestic from PHP200 original fee.
“Kumpara natin within the region, tayo na pinakamalayo so far sa terminal fee. Kailangan natin ng pangtustos para masustain ang improvements na makukuha sa revenue para madagdagan ang ating funding (If we compare the terminal fees within the region, ours are the lowest. We need funding to sustain the improvements at the airport which we would get from the revenues for additional funding), MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said in an interview Wednesday.
Terminal fees at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport are PHP850 for international flights and PHP300 for domestic while Clark International Airport charges PHP650 for international and PHP150 for domestic.
The increase in the terminal fees is projected to generate at least 1 percent increase in the gross revenue of NAIA, Monreal said.
The MIAA expects a deficit on its revenues within the next five years if the terminal fees are not increased.
Overseas Filipino workers will still be exempted from paying the terminal fees.
Monreal hopes the terminal fee hikes will be able to sustain NAIA as one of the world’s most improved airports.
“Wala na po tayo sa world’s worst airports at yan ay kailangan natin i-sustain. Kapag wala pa tayong additional revenues to sustain those eh baka bumalik po tayo doon (We no longer considered as one of the world’s worst airports and we need to sustain this. If we don’t have the additional revenues to sustain those we might revert to that situation),” he said.
NAIA has ranked 10th on the list of the world’s most improved airports by United-Kingdom based consultancy firm Skytrax. (PNA)
