MANILA -- Executives from AirAsia Philippines, as well as from other carriers globally, said there is a need for fair and transparent airport slots.
Airport slots determine a carrier's landing and take-off slots.
AirAsia Philippines' new major shareholder, Michael Romero, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday afternoon that the carrier's major dilemma is its airport slots in Manila.
"The government has to give us equal slots," he said.
In an interview with the PNA, AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer, Dexter Comendador, said the government must provide a system that would enable carriers to see vacant slots.
"Every year, we (airlines) would know our schedule or slots for the entire year. It's computer generated. That's also why we (pilots) could land the aircraft at a certain airport at a certain time, because it is computer generated," he said.
"If for example, I have a plane that needs to be repaired, I wouldn't be able to fly that using its slot. If the other airlines would have the means to see vacant slots like that, then they could request to the authorities if they would want to get it," Comendador explained.
Comendador added that the problem is that only the government authorities see the record for airport slots. If this could be accessible to airlines, then there would be transparency and everyone would have the chance to request for the available slots, he said.
The executive added that having a system accessible to airlines would also enable them to see who failed to use their slots, which could have delayed the other airline's take off, for instance.
"That's what we (AirAsia Philippines) proposes -- to have a system," he reiterated.
Meanwhile, at the recently concluded International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 75th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Seoul, Korea, attendees also talked about the need for fair and transparent allocation of slots.
The Philippine Airlines' (PAL) delegation was among the 1,000 airline executives and aircraft manufacturers who joined the meeting that aimed at tackling key issues, particularly in infrastructure, the airline industry is facing.
Jose Perez de Tagle, PAL vice president for communications, earlier told the PNA that the attendees hope the airports and authorities heed IATA's call to ensure fair, transparent allocation of slots at congested airports. (PNA)
