PAL execs given NAIA-3 tour

Executives of Philippine Airlines (PAL), were recently given a tour of the still-closed Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Florencio Montalbo, Jr., MIAA assistant general manager for NAIA-3 operations, said the tour given to a group of PAL executives last Dec. 21 was part of their continuing efforts in preparation for the "impending opening" of the facility.

"Both parties (PAL and MIAA) agree in saying that we are committed to pursue the necessary preparatory efforts if only to provide even better and more efficient service for the riding public upon commencement of T3 operations," Montalbo said in a statement.

The MIAA had recently secured PAL’s commitment "in principle" for its transfer to the NAIA-3 in case the government finally opens it by the end of the first quarter of next year.

To secure PAL’s commitment, MIAA had granted the carrier’s demand that its domestic operations be also housed there.

The airline’s top management and security officials, led by Luis Castro, vice president for security, were given the opportunity to evaluate the specific technical aspects of the terminal to determine the adjustments that PAL will have to make for the transfer.

"We want to be sure that PAL’s service will not be compromised by the transfer of the operations from the Centennial Terminal to NAIA Terminal III," Castro said in a MIAA statement. "This visit is meant to assure both MIAA and PAL that T3 is well ready to assume its significant role as the country’s premier gateway."

Last October, MIAA had handed over a check for more than P3 billion to the terminal’s builder, Philippine International Air Terminals, Co. (Piatco), as payment for the "proferred" value of the terminal in view of its expropriation of the facility in December 2004. – Rainier Allan Ronda