SAN MIGUEL-LED Latest NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) plans to resolve all issues to demolish the abandoned Philippine Village Hotel beside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by next 12 months to make way for a brand new terminal, an organization official said.
“The Philippine Village Hotel, we wish to begin the demolition and construction by early next 12 months, although there are lots of problems surrounding this plan,” NNIC General-Manager Angelito A. Alvarez told reporters on Friday last week.
Mr. Alvarez said that the NNIC is now coordinating with the local government of Pasay City, along with the Transportation department and the Manila International Airport Authority to have the constructing demolished.
“I feel the local government saw the merit of our request. From the looks of it, in the following few days they are going to issue a permit,” he added.
Mr. Alvarez said the demolition of the Philippine Village Hotel faces many legal issues.
“We’ve got a plan for this latest terminal. We’d like this to decongest (our airport) because our airport capability is just 35 million, but by the tip of the 12 months, it’s projected that we’ll hit about 50 million,” he added.
NNIC Chairman Ramon S. Ang said the brand new terminal will add 36 passenger boarding bridges and accommodate 22 million passengers annually. He added that construction might take a minimum of three to 4 years to finish.
The NNIC can also be working on the renovation and upgrade of Terminal 4, which began on Nov. 6.
The brand new upgraded terminal, which has a budget of kind of P200 million, will reopen in February 2025.
With the continuing upgrade of Terminal 4, all airlines operating there, corresponding to AirSWIFT, Sunlight Air, and the regional brand of budget carrier Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, transferred to Terminal 2, where the domestic flights of Philippine Airlines are currently operating.
The brand new NAIA operator said that it remains to be ironing out its planned terminal reassignments to make sure minimal impact on operations.
The brand new terminal reassignment is anticipated to be implemented by the primary quarter of 2025, Mr. Alvarez said.
“This terminal reassignment would only be the primary phase. The very first thing to do is to renovate Terminal 4. Once finished, we’ll relocate AirAsia from Terminal 2 to Terminal 4,” he said, adding that the terminal reassignments could be in a gradual manner.
To recall, NNIC said it plans to designate Terminal 1 for Philippine Airlines, Terminal 2 for domestic flights, Terminal 3 for all foreign airlines including Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines’ international flights, and Terminal 4 for AirAsia Philippines’ domestic operations. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
