Airport infrastructure obstacle to growth in Philippines
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Philippine infrastructure development is not keeping pace with rising demand and will stunt industry growth in the near future. This warning was issued by travel industry stakeholders who have urged the government to explore various expansion opportunities across the country.Budget airlines in the Philippines have tabled aggressive short-term expansion plans which will soon exceed the carrying capacity of domestic airports. Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer; “It is clear to both the government and the private sector that the existing network must be improved. This is the reason why airport projects are among those included in the government’s priority projects.”Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) (pictured) currently serves 90% of the country’s air traffic and has no room to expand further with new terminals and runways to accommodate increasing traffic. A solution is needed urgently as delays are already commonplace according to local reports. Planes will often sit idle on the runway for more than an hour waiting to take-off, and this threatens the viability of low-cost business models which rely on fast turnarounds. “A thorough analysis of demand and capacity must be conducted to find a solution that would promote growth not only for the airline industry, but also for tourism, trade and ultimately the travelling public,” Iyog said.AirPhil Express Senior Vice President for Marketing and Sales Alfredo Herrera suggested shifting services to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga, as a viable solution. According to Herrera, congestion at NAIA has prompted AirPhil Express to focus on airports outside Manila. The carrier already operates out of its hub in Cebu and will commence flights form Clark DMIA in October.
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