PAL supports plan to remove private aircraft out of NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Plans to remove private jets parked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) got the support of the flag carrier’s top executive who keeps a “small fleet” of personal planes there.

“We declare our full support to the new government’s decision to move the operations of general aviation out of the NAIA to either Sangley, Clark or Subic,” said Lucio Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Airlines.

“This declaration of support includes moving out of NAIA my small fleet of private jets as gesture of compliance to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) initiative,” he said in a statement.

The DOTr has earlier called on people parking their private jets at NAIA to move them out to help decongest the country’s main gateway once dubbed as the world’s worst airport.

It was not clear how many private jets are parked in NAIA.

Sought for comment, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade welcomed Tan’s move and hoped it would initiate more cooperation from the private sector.

“I am inspired and strengthened when people see the light in government projects and give their unconditional support,” he said in a text message.

Tan, for his part, vowed to continue supporting the Duterte administration on its efforts to change the country’s transport image.

“Any measure to reduce air traffic congestion at NAIA will not only improve airlines’ flight schedule reliability but also enhance passenger convenience,” he said.

Through the latest move, the government would want to provide additional aviation space from vacating private planes to commercial flights.

Earlier, PAL president Jaime Bautista said development of NAIA and other airports forms part of the carrier’s wish list for the Duterte administration.

“We’re taking delivery of more airplanes and if there are no infrastructure and if there are no support infrastructure, our airplanes will just be parked,” said Bautista, also PAL chief operating officer.

Last year, NAIA’s four terminals served 36.7 million passengers, higher than the airport’s annual maximum capacity of 35 million passengers.

PAL, which has more than 70 aircraft, has flight services to 30 domestic and over 40 international destinations.