NAIA Declared High-Risk Airport in Asia-Pacific

The International Air Transport Association has released a report declaring the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila as one of the high risk airports in the Asia-Pacific region. The report cited unresolved safety issues and poor infrastructure as the leading causes of concern.

Copyright Photo: Khedel Tan/PPSG

The report titled, "Immediate and Long-Term Priorities for Manila Airports," indicates that member airlines of the International Air Transport Association have brought forward specific concerns about the management of airside infrastructure at the airport and the safety of ground movement operations.

Airlines cited the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as high-risk due to the air traffic management issues that have plagued the airport between 2010 and 2013. Some of the issues contained in the report include vectors and delays, non-standard air traffic control procedures, and extended holding.

Last May, the International Air Transport Association issued a notice to all members flying to the Philippines via Manila of the "ongoing risk to aircraft operations arising from unaddressed deficiencies in airside ground movement aids."

Deficiencies identified include airport markings, signage, lighting, and charting, especially at the intersection of Runway 06/24 and Runway 31/13, which is considered the "hotspot." This particular area has been described by flight crews as poorly lit, with non-standard and poorly maintained signage and markings, which result in confusion due to the complex configuration of the taxiways.

Since November 2014, the International Air Transport Association has received three reports of runway incursion events in the "hotspot" zone. To minimize safety risks, the agency is recommending that new ground movement aids be installed and properly maintained, while new air traffic control procedures should be implemented. In addition, aeronautical charts need updated to accurately reflect the existing layout of the airfield, markings, and dimensions.

The report also indicated that better air traffic control and improvements to the runway system could increase the capacity of the runway to 51 or 56 take-offs and landings per hour, compared to the existing 40 movements. These measures would help to reduce congestion by increasing runway capacity by 40 percent at the crowded international gateway.

IATA noted that the Philippine government's failure to invest sufficiently in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have contributed to the ongoing degradation of the passenger experience. If the government does not take steps to reprioritize the airport, it will have a detrimental impact on the airport's ability to attract transfer traffic.

Philippine Airlines recently revealed that it is targeting transfer traffic when it begins offering connecting service from London, England to Sydney, Australia via Manila. Cebu Pacific is also hoping to leverage connection opportunities on its flights from Sydney, Australia, where passengers can connect to flights bound for North Asia. However, both carriers face an uphill battle given the competitive market for air travel in Southeast Asia and Manila Airport's poor reputation in the region.

Like passengers, the IATA is also advocating for the construction of brand new terminal buildings with adequate structural flexibility to accommodate new trends in the industry including new aircraft types and transforming immigration and security requirements. This would also help to improve service levels and the passenger experience dramatically.

Last year, Emirates brought the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, to Terminal 3 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a test flight from Dubai. However, it was determined by local authorities that the Manila Airport lacked the necessary infrastructure to adequately service the aircraft and the accompanying large number of passengers.

In regards to Clark International Airport, the IATA stated that it could serve as an interim solution to the congestion and capacity issues at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. However, it should not be developed as the primary gateway for the city. Instead, it was recommended that a new greenfield airport with adequate capacity be developed within a 50 kilometre radius from the city centre to serve the needs of Manila.

References: Rappler