By Recto Mercene
FULL-SERVICE carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Thursday announced that all flights from Los Angeles, coded PR103 and PR113, would be disembarking at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (Naia1) from January 13 to March 22, 2016.
This follows the transfer of flights from San Francisco, coded PR105 and PR115, from Naia 2 to Naia 1 for all arriving passengers beginning last December 8.
Passengers of other PAL international flights will continue to disembark in Naia 2, said PAL Spokesman Cielo Villaluna.
Utilizing Terminals 1 and 2 for arriving US flights will mitigate the effects of peak travel period, she added.
She said PAL will continue to provide passengers of these affected flights information on their new terminal assignment by way of e-mail notification, airport advisories and onboard announcements.
Upon arrival in Naia 1, PAL airport-ground staff will meet passengers with connecting flights (out of T2 and T3) upon disembarking, and guide them through the arrival area to the transfer area where the shuttle buses are situated, the carrier said.
“There will be specific shuttle buses for Terminals 2 and 3. Airport staff will be onboard the buses to assist passengers en route to the other terminals for their domestic or international connections, Villaluna said.
Naia 1, which used to be congested for years, had been refurbished and made roomy after half-a-dozen banks and other concessionaires that used to stand in the middle of the arrival area were relocated to the side of the building.
From Naia 1, five major airlines—Cathay Pacific, Delta Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and KLM—were relocated to Naia 3 in mid-2015, making it home to six legacy carriers that include All Nippon Airways of Japan. The transfer was made possible as Naia 3 becomes a full-scale global gateway following the upgrade.
Naia 3 is now home to six legacy carriers and five low-cost carriers—Cebu Pacific, Air Asia Philippines, Air Asia Zest, Cebgo and PAL Express.
