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It was supposed to be opened in 2002 and opened partially in 2008. President Aquino recently promised that Terminal 3 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport will definitely open completely before 2014…
MANILA – Manila’s biggest construction scandal of modern times is a dark grey sleek structure facing a few hotels and a highway at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Terminal 3 construction and opening is a real saga. Built from 1997 the airport was due to open in 2002 but remained then closed due to legal dispute between the government of the Philippines and the project’s main contractor, Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco), over the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract. The airport opened partially in 2008 to host all the flights from Cebu Pacific. Last year, All Nippon Airways moved to Terminal 3 but the government has so far failed to convince other airlines to move there, due to safety issues.
A few weeks ago, President Aquino declared that Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) will be fully operational before 2014. Aquino said the government has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Takenaka group, the sub-contractor of NAIA-3 builder Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (PIATCO), to complete the project. “There’s an MOU already with the Takenaka group to finish the portion of the work that has been left aside, some structural corrections with regard to NAIA-3,” he said during a forum.
The President was the special guest in yesterday’s 108th General Membership Meeting of the 17th World Electronics Forum (WEF) and Semiconductors Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) which was attended by more than 200 top executives. Funds of US$ 6 million have been attributed by the government to complete unfinished work at the Terminal. According State Secretary for Tourism Ramon Jimenez , at least three foreign airlines will move their operations to Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) by next year, decongesting NAIA-1. The airlines will be Delta Air Lines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates.
Renovations are also carried out at Terminal 1 to give facilities a fresher look. Most international airlines fly from Terminal 1 while Philippine Airlines has the exclusive use of The Centennial Terminal 2.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
