MIAA chief denies claims vs NAIA Terminal 1

MANILA, Philippines — Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado shot down misconceptions on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 amid a fresh "worst airport" tag.

Reacting to a columnist's tirade against the airport, Honrado issued a statement late Monday denying that reconstruction of the terminal will only be completed in March 2016.

"We never promised that construction will end by [March] 2016. Terminal 1 is supposed to be completed by the first quarter of 2015," Honrado said.

"I think you're one of those columnists who pick up their figures out of thin air. I am appalled," he added.

United States-based website The Cheat Sheet included the airport among the world's worst. NAIA's top executive, however, does not seem convinced.

All of the terminals' restrooms are no longer "filthy and foul-smelling" after the renovation, while its air-conditioning system also meets standards, Honrado said.

"At present the comfort rooms at NAIA Terminal 1 are new and clean. Cleaners are in constant attendance," he said.

He also attached a list of recorded air conditioning temperatures in main areas of Terminal 1 to contradict claims that units "don't work."

The terminal capacity of NAIA complex, meanwhile, is for 30 million passengers.

"Not 6 million as you erroneously stated in your column. Our last count was 32,200,000 passengers for 2013," the airport chief said.