THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said it’s in talks with the operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on possible passenger relief measures, including lower landing, takeoff, and terminal fees.
“We want to debate this. For now, the reduction of fees are for CAAP-operated airports only,” Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said in an interview last week.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the matter is under discussion, noting that the federal government cannot readily amend the concession agreement with NAIA’s private operator.
Recent NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator of the country’s predominant gateway, took over the operations and management of NAIA in 2024. It includes San Miguel Corp.’s infrastructure unit, San Miguel Holdings Corp., together with RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp.
“It remains to be the identical, we’re still talking to them. With respect to the private operators, because there may be an existing contract, and under our structure there may be a non-impairment of existing contracts, we’ll see,” Mr. Lopez said.
Last week, the DoTr said it’s going to implement adjusted airport-related charges, including terminal fees and landing and takeoff fees, for airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), starting April 1, amid rising fuel prices.
Passenger service charges, or terminal fees, for departing passengers can be reduced by as much as P200 starting April 1 for 3 months, the DoTr said.
The measure goals to cushion the expected rise in airfares after the Civil Aeronautics Board raised the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 8 for the first half of April, the best level in two years.
The DoTr also ordered a discount in navigation charges, including landing and takeoff fees, by as much as P5,000 for CAAP-run airports.
Landing and takeoff fees are charges for using airport facilities and services during aircraft landings and takeoffs. — Ashley Erika O. Jose