AIRLINE companies and air passengers welcomed the move of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Cesar Chiong to remove the initial security screening equipment or x-ray machines at the premier airports.
This move, according to Chiong, will cover the four NAIA terminals, which aimed to ensure a smoother and easier passenger experience especially during the holidays when travel season is at its peak.
A surge in the volume of air passengers is expected as more people fly either in or out of the country to celebrate Christmas and New Year with families and friends.
GM Chiong has ordered the removal of the initial security screening equipment or x-ray machines beginning at the entrances of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4 on December 16 and at the NAIA Terminal 3 on December 20.
The initiative was not only welcomed but is also being fully supported by airline companies, stakeholders and air passengers themselves.
The goal is to reduce passenger queues at the airport with security personnel still present to check passengers’ travel documents.
On the other hand, a different entrance had been assigned for the employes or non-passengers whose belongings will still be subject to screening.
GM Chiong said the initial security screening in all four terminals started on December 14, and so far, the move has received nothing but praises.
At the NAIA Terminal 2, all x-rays were no longer at the southwing and northwing entrances.
Relatedlly, following a record of 1.6 million passenger volume for December 1 to 15, 2022 alone, GM Chiong reiterated his call for airline operators and ground handlers to ensure maximum attendance of their personnel and include buffers in case the need for augmentation arises during this Christmas week.
“So we can be assured that they have the numbers, I have directed our head of operations to make the airlines submit their manpower schedules and deployment vis-a-vis their number of flights in a day, making sure that there are enough ground staff especially check in agents, loaders and ramp agents,” said GM Chiong.
He also directed MIAA’s own operations and engineering teams to ascertain reliability of all facilities and equipment that will highly impact on flight operations.
Too, he ordered a thorough inspection of the baggage handling system in NAIA Terminal 3 following a report that it encountered some issues for about an hour morning of Saturday, December 17.
While contingency measures put into place followed the MIAA’s Manual for Irregular Operations (IROPS), the GM emphasized that the aim should always be “no system failure”.
In this light, he urged airlines to also plan for contingencies to complement airport mitigating measures for irregular operations.
Recent reports where pieces of luggage belonging to airline passengers failed to arrive with them in Manila, GM Chiong expressed serious concern over the incident. He said that airlines must always keep passengers aware if their bags were not loaded onto the flight and give them the necessary compensation per day of delay based on the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR).
GM Chiong stresses that the MIAA and the airlines should always work together so that the air riding public can be provided with the best airport experience possible. Congratulations!!!
Joke (from Walter De Guzman of Tarlac, Tarlac)
INDAY: Sir, kumusta po ang grades ko?
Teacher: Aba, Inday! Kasingganda ng buhok mo!!
INDAY: Talaga po? Wow naman!
Teacher: Wow ka diyan. Ang grades mo parang buhok mo, bagong rebond. BAGSAK NA BAGSAK!
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