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THE
$500-million Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal
3 (Naia 3) that was sitting idly for the last six years
at a corner of Villamor Air Base burst into light and
hummed with activity as low-fare airline Cebu Pacific (CEB)
transferred partial operations there, starting its first
flight to Caticlan-Boracay at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Then it
launched four more flights from Naia 3 to Laoag, Naga,
San Jose in Mindoro and Tuguegarao using its ATR-72
turboprop planes.
CEB said
its other domestic flights would remain at the Manila
Domestic Airport terminal while all its international
flights will continue to operate at the Naia Terminal 1.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific is looking at transferring its
entire domestic operations at Naia 3 by next week, the
airline’s chief executive said Tuesday.
“We
expect that by Wednesday next week we will move our
entire domestic operation here. For now, we will assess
today’s first day of operations,” said Lance Gokongwei.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said Tuesday
the airline is looking at servicing its international
flights at the new terminal by next month.
At the
same time, Mendoza said that after Cebu Pacific, two
more airlines—PAL Express and Air Philippines—would
transfer to Naia 3 by Thursday, said Mendoza.
He also
said there are ongoing talks with five airlines
interested to use Naia 3.
“We are
now talking to an association composed of airlines.
Initially, there are five that will transfer here [Naia
3] possibly within the year,” added Mendoza.
Candice
Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product, said
the new terminal would provide the public more ease and
convenience as it can accommodate its growing passenger
base and provide better facilities.
A month
from now, Cebu Pacific expects to carry a total of
500,000 passengers at the new facility. “We expect to
make 55 roundtrips a day once we have finally settled
here [Naia 3]. This will translate to at least 15,000
passengers a day,” added Gokongwei.
Passenger Penny Kelbetron from North Carolina, her
husband, two children and 10 relatives based in the
country were among the 72 passengers who booked for the
Boracay flight. She gushed with warm approval of the
gleaming glass, steel terminal and airline counters of
the departure area as they checked-in early.
“This is
great; this is beautiful! When we came in three weeks
ago, it was kinda dingy, the old airport. And so [now]
we’re going to Boracay with the whole family, it’s like
‘Wow! This is great!’”
Ethel
Siwagan from Tuguegarao is also leaving for Boracay with
seven other relatives, saying she was simply too excited
to have been the first to use the new terminal. She was
accompanied by nephews and nieces, a brother-in-law and
a two-year-old baby girl, Cameron Griffin.
At 11
a.m. Tuesday, an official opening of the domestic flight
was celebrated at the cavernous departure zone, led by
Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, chairman of the congressional
oversight committee, along with Reps. Monico Puentevella
(Bacolod City), Teodoro Locsin Jr. (First District,
Makati), Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro), Sen. Richard
Gordon and Transportation and Communications Secretary
Mendoza.
Airport
general manager Alfonso Cusi, in an opening statement,
said that due to many problems, he thought that the
terminal would never be opened to the public.
“Three
presidents handled issues concerning this airport. Also
four general managers have passed and now we are here
witnessing the opening of this terminal,” Cusi said in
Filipino.
He added
that after two inspections made by Puentevella of the
House Committee on Transportation, he was given a
deadline to make the airport operational by September.
He said he was happy that he made it two months ahead of
schedule, including many secret deals that could not be
revealed at the moment.
Cusi
added that the opening of the airport was also
facilitated with the appointment of former presidential
chief of staff Michael Defensor as head of Task Force
Naia 3 a month ago.
Cusi
acknowledged the support of Cebu Pacific in the eventual
opening of the controversial terminal, pointing to
Gokongwei, who was among the guests, for his aggressive
performance and trust.
“In the
preparation for the opening of the airport, I saw the
support of the Cebu Pacific team and their very
aggressive performance. Thank you very much, Lance [Gokongwei],
for your trust in us. Of course, the same goes to the
employees of Miaa [Manila International Airport
Administration] who worked overtime,” Cusi added.
He noted
that there were many unsavory issues that came out of
the controversial terminal, but now that it was opened,
Cusi said they have answered all the doubts.
Gordon,
chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, who was
among those who first proposed the immediate opening of
the airport while the legal problems are being tackled
in the courts, said: “Today, we breathe a great sigh of
relief and confidence and pride because we are now
showing that not only other countries in Asean have done
it, we have been able to do it.”
However,
noting the sparse audience attending the celebration
consisting mostly of Miaa employees and the officials
invited, Gordon repeated an earlier proposal to invite
all travel practitioners and ambassadors in Asia, going
even to the extent of paying for their transportation,
if necessary, so they can see the Philippines has a new
terminal, which meant a big step forward for the
country.
“This is
something that I think we should be looking at because
we keep looking backwards and that’s why we keep
tripping. Today, we move forward. Today, we address the
severe problems that we have in this country. You have
23 million people traveling in our country,” Gordon
said.
Defensor
said Naia 3 represents not only the tourism sector but
the showcase of our economy as well.
Puentevella, chairman of the House Committee on
Transportation, said: “I’m sure tourism would be very
prosperous. But in behalf of all of us here in Congress,
after more than five years, it’s show time. Let’s begin
the show!” |
