PHILIPPINES: Civil Aeronautics Board To Decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport In Manila

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is pouring its efforts into developing new routes for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and to accommodate more airline carriers that want to make the Philippines their new hub in Asia.

Alexander Paul Rivera, CAB deputy executive director, said the easing of airline requirements particularly for low-cost carriers (LCCs) will open new opportunities for tourism since budget airlines are a game-changer in the travel and tourism industry.

The overall strategy is to encourage direct services. Because of the constraints of the Manila airport, we have developed direct routes to secondary airports and alternative routes, he said, during the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) LCC North Asia Summit panel discussion on Monday, June 24, 2019.

This is the Philippines’ first time to host the Capa LCC North Summit.

Rivera said liberalization of regulations and policies for airlines and airports is crucial to maintaining the growth of the aviation industry.

The purpose of government regulation is to oversee the expansion of connectivity and how this benefits not only the passengers but also the airlines,” he said.

MCIA general manager and chief executive officer Steve Dicdican said they saw significant growth in tourist arrivals in Cebu driven by the expansion of LCCs. This prompted them to immediately address the need to build a second runway at MCIA.

MCIA’s annual traffic reached 11.3 million passengers in 2018 from 10.05 million in 2017. The airport is currently linked to 24 international and 33 domestic destinations.

Alexander Lao, president and chief executive officer of Cebgo, said they saw growth in the last 10 years with the removal of restrictions on aviation entitlements, which means the granting to a country’s airline of the right to land in another country.

It has benefited not just the airlines but also the customers because they now have more choices, he said.

AirAsia Philippines head of government affairs and policy Desiree Bandal said services on regional airports could increase if LCCs will expand more their network amid a freindlier business climate.

It will also spur economic activities in other parts of the country.

The impact goes beyond airlines. This also impacts the local communities because if you fly to more regional airports, it encourages growth outside Manila and it supports small and medium enterprises. So it’s a very positive outcome, she said.


Tourism Observer

Airlines Cancel Flights Due to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting

Several Philippine-based and foreign airlines announced the cancellation of some of its flights from November 16 to 20, 2015 due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) high-profile meetings which will be held in Manila in the following weeks.

In an effort to secure the arrival and departure of special guests in the APEC week, the Manila International Airport Authority has ordered temporary runway closures within the week.

In line with this advisory, Cebu Pacific flights scheduled on below dates were cancelled. We hope for our guests' understanding as there may be flight schedule changes throughout the duration of the APEC Meeting in Manila. CEB will provide updates as soon as they are available.

CEB is arranging the re-accommodation of affected guests on the soonest available flights. Affected guests may avail any of the following options without penalties, if they are unable to fly on soonest available flights:
rebook their flights for travel within 30 days from the original departure date; or
opt for full refund or travel fund.

To specify their preferred option, guests may contact CEB's reservation hotlines: (+632) 702-0888 or (+6332) 230-8888, or visit any of the following ticket offices:
NAIA Terminal 3 Sales Office – Level 3, Departure Hall, NAIA Terminal 3, Andrews Ave., Pasay City
NAIA Terminal 4 Express Ticket Office – Old Domestic Road, Pasay City
KidZania Manila (rebooking transactions only) – Park Triangle, 3245 North 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, 1634 Taguig City
Robinsons Galleria – West Lane, Level 1, Ortigas Ave. cor. ADB Ave., Quezon City
Robinsons Place Imus – Level 4, Aguinaldo Highway Imus, Cavite
Robinsons Place Manila – Level 1, Adriatico Wing, Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico St., Ermita, Manila
Cebu Airport Ticket Office – Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Lapu-Lapu Airport Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu
Robinsons Fuente – Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City

SPECIAL TICKETING GUIDELINES
Due to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on 18 – 19 November 2015, cancellation / refund and one-time rebooking / rerouting charges will be waived for all tickets issued worldwide (irrespective of fare type) on / before 02 November 2015 for passengers travelling on above mentioned flights.
CX / KA Ticket Stock
Cancellation / Refund
Rebooking / Rerouting

Cancellation / Refund charges are waived
One-time rebooking / rerouting charges will be waived on conditions that:
- Such requests are made on / before 16 November 2015 for travel on affected flights as mentioned above; No show passenger is not eligible for the waiver.
- Revised (new) travel date must be within the travel validity of the fare issued, and subject to flight availability.
- The newly rebooked sector must observe and conform with the conditions of the respective fare rule, e.g. blackout dates, flight application, weekend / weekday travel, stopover charges and applicable seasonalities by collecting additional as appropriate.
All succeeding rebookings / reroutings will be charged the necessary rebooking / rerouting fees (if applicable).