Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has ramped up precautionary measures to maintain safety and security during busy Holy Week, with more than one million passengers expected to flock to the country’s main gateway.
NAIA is expected to welcome over 1.18 million passengers within the period beginning Palm Sunday on April 13 to Easter Sunday on the 20th. This is a 14-percent increase from last year’s 1.04 million passengers.
Flight movements are also anticipated to rise from 6,537 flights last year to 6,724 this year.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of NAIA, is expecting Good Friday (April 18) to be the busiest day with 851 flights, while Tuesday (April 15) will see the lightest traffic with 818 flights. These figures are higher than any single day during Holy Week last year.
The operator is in close coordination with government agencies such as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), as well as its airline partners, to ensure smooth operations and limit potential delays.
“Everyone is working hard to keep things running as smoothly as possible as we prepare for the Holy Week rush,” said NNIC General Manager Angelito Alvarez.
“We ask for the public’s patience and cooperation in the days ahead, as we work together to make the travel experience better for everyone,” he added.
NNIC has prepared assistance desks that will operate round-the-clock across the terminals of NAIA. These will be staffed by airport personnel, medical teams, and uniformed officers to support the needs of travelers.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner (BI) Joel Anthony M. Viado assured the public that the bureau is prepared in dealing with the influx of passengers.
The BI said around 50,000 travelers are expected daily at the country’s international airports this Holy Week.
“We have fielded a total of 48 immigration frontliners at NAIA alone to ensure that all immigration counters are fully manned during peak arrival and departure hours,” said Viado.
Viado advised passengers to go to the airports early before their scheduled departure.
“We urge the public to be at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled flight to allow ample time for immigration and security checks,” he said.
“This is part of our commitment to deliver swift and seamless service to the traveling public,” he added. (Dexter Barro II, Jeffrey Damicog)
