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| The new NAIA terminal fees, including exempted passengers (GMA News graphic) |
Plane fares from and within the Philippines could rise starting on Sept. 14, when new terminal fees at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport take effect.
For international departures, the terminal fee will rise to Php950 from the current Php550, while domestic flights will cost an extra Php190 to Php390, or nearly double the current fee of Php200.
Exempted from the fees, as before, are overseas Filipino workers, flight crews, pilgrims, Philippine Sports Commission delegates, Medal of Valor awardees, and those authorized by law or the Office of the President.
It will be the first increase in NAIA’s terminal fee since 2000.
According to the Manila International Airport Authority, the fee increase will fund the modernization, expansion and upgrade of the airport, which is now managed by the private operatr, New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC).
Among other things, the fee increase will fund renovations in Terminals 1 and 3 plus the installatation of e-gates by December. It will also be used to upgrade the equipment of security personnel.
MIAA General Manager Eric Ines said in media interviews that the current Php500 terminal fee is the lowest in the region and needs to be adjusted.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
For comparison, the airport in the region that charges the highest terminal fee is Singapore’s Changi Airport which charges the equivalent of Php2,683; while those in Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia collect between Php1,100 to Php1,600 per passenger.
Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport, currently charges only the equivalent of Php895, but this will more than double to Php1,935 by October 1 this year.
The announcement of the increase in passenger service or terminal fee at NAIA drew the ire of many people when it was announced last year. Despite this, the airport management decided the fee increase could not be held off much longer if services were to be improved.
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