Post by Baqu3ro on Aug 5, 2008 19:32:08 GMT 8
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Cebu Pacific Air admitted Tuesday that the shortage of employees manning the Ninoy Aquino International Airport's (NAIA) Terminal 3 is the root of the glitches and delays which has beset the new terminal.
Cebu Pacific, the terminal's main tenant, said it was surprised by the differences between operations at the NAIA 3 and at its old base at the Manila Domestic Airport.
"Akala kasi namin, kakayanin [namin], with the same scale, number of people. Ngayon, hindi na. Mas malayo at mas madami na yung gates, kaya yung coordination namin, medyo malayo na," said Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing Candice Iyog.
However, Cebu Pacific assured its customers that it is doing everything to iron things out at the new terminal.
The MIAA, meanwhile, said that it is only now that it is seeing problems on opening a new airport.
It, however, said that things are looking up since the Flight Information Display System has been put up. More employees are assisting passengers around the terminal, it added.
"We've taken cognizance of the fact that even other people doing other jobs can double-up and do multitasking for the convenience of passengers," said MIAA assistant general manager Tirso Serrano.
Both Cebu Pacific and MIAA appealed to passengers to be more patient with the delays and glitches of the new terminal.
'Normal' operations seen
Earlier, both the MIAA and Cebu Pacific expected that the operations at Terminal 3 would normalize Tuesday, after days of encountering a confluence of problems that stranded hundreds of passengers.
"Hopefully, there we be no more problems," Serrano said in an earlier interview with ABS-CBN.
Iyog, meanwhile, said postponed flights have already departed NAIA 3 on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. She said some stranded passengers due to delayed flights over the weekend and on Monday were billeted to hotels near the international airport.
"There were no more cancellations. We expect the operations to normalize today (Tuesday)," Iyog said.
Serrano said the delay of flights, which angered hundreds of passengers, was a result of some operational "glitches." He said such problems are expected in newly-opened international airports, even in other countries.
Iyog, meanwhile, explained that the delayed flights that started over the weekend were a result of a confluence of reasons, including their transition from the old terminals to the NAIA 3 and bad weather.
She added that two Cebu Pacific aircrafts also had to undergo maintenance repairs on Monday, which resulted in further delays.
Almost ready
Airport officials led by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi started a twice-a-week meeting on Monday after experiencing the "birth pain" problems, Serrano said.
Serrano said assessments were made on Monday and they agreed that the NAIA 3 was only 70 to 80 percent ready for the international and domestic flights.
Even with the glitches, the airport official said the MIAA 3 could make up for its better preparations on the passengers servicing side. He mentioned a well-constructed passenger waiting areas and more comfortable facility.
The NAIA 3 started its international flights operations August 1. It's soft opening last July 22 started with only eight domestic flights of the Cebu Pacific Air followed by the start of other domestic airlines -- PAL Express and Air Philippines -- last July 24.
"We would like to apologize for the problems caused by what we call birth pain troubles. We're only on our fifth day," Serrano said.
He said the airport management, together with the airlines at the new terminal, will "pick up the pieces" to improve their services.
"What's important is we are able to join hands and address these glitches on a day to day basis," he added. With a report from Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News
Cebu Pacific, the terminal's main tenant, said it was surprised by the differences between operations at the NAIA 3 and at its old base at the Manila Domestic Airport.
"Akala kasi namin, kakayanin [namin], with the same scale, number of people. Ngayon, hindi na. Mas malayo at mas madami na yung gates, kaya yung coordination namin, medyo malayo na," said Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing Candice Iyog.
However, Cebu Pacific assured its customers that it is doing everything to iron things out at the new terminal.
The MIAA, meanwhile, said that it is only now that it is seeing problems on opening a new airport.
It, however, said that things are looking up since the Flight Information Display System has been put up. More employees are assisting passengers around the terminal, it added.
"We've taken cognizance of the fact that even other people doing other jobs can double-up and do multitasking for the convenience of passengers," said MIAA assistant general manager Tirso Serrano.
Both Cebu Pacific and MIAA appealed to passengers to be more patient with the delays and glitches of the new terminal.
'Normal' operations seen
Earlier, both the MIAA and Cebu Pacific expected that the operations at Terminal 3 would normalize Tuesday, after days of encountering a confluence of problems that stranded hundreds of passengers.
"Hopefully, there we be no more problems," Serrano said in an earlier interview with ABS-CBN.
Iyog, meanwhile, said postponed flights have already departed NAIA 3 on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. She said some stranded passengers due to delayed flights over the weekend and on Monday were billeted to hotels near the international airport.
"There were no more cancellations. We expect the operations to normalize today (Tuesday)," Iyog said.
Serrano said the delay of flights, which angered hundreds of passengers, was a result of some operational "glitches." He said such problems are expected in newly-opened international airports, even in other countries.
Iyog, meanwhile, explained that the delayed flights that started over the weekend were a result of a confluence of reasons, including their transition from the old terminals to the NAIA 3 and bad weather.
She added that two Cebu Pacific aircrafts also had to undergo maintenance repairs on Monday, which resulted in further delays.
Almost ready
Airport officials led by Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi started a twice-a-week meeting on Monday after experiencing the "birth pain" problems, Serrano said.
Serrano said assessments were made on Monday and they agreed that the NAIA 3 was only 70 to 80 percent ready for the international and domestic flights.
Even with the glitches, the airport official said the MIAA 3 could make up for its better preparations on the passengers servicing side. He mentioned a well-constructed passenger waiting areas and more comfortable facility.
The NAIA 3 started its international flights operations August 1. It's soft opening last July 22 started with only eight domestic flights of the Cebu Pacific Air followed by the start of other domestic airlines -- PAL Express and Air Philippines -- last July 24.
"We would like to apologize for the problems caused by what we call birth pain troubles. We're only on our fifth day," Serrano said.
He said the airport management, together with the airlines at the new terminal, will "pick up the pieces" to improve their services.
"What's important is we are able to join hands and address these glitches on a day to day basis," he added. With a report from Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News