Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jaime Bautista has outlined provisional plans to help the Philippine government in its bid to decongest the country's main gateway, Manila Ninoy Aquino International Ninoy Aquino International.
Speaking to the Malaya Business Insight, Bautista said PAL was looking at transferring some domestic flights to Angeles City Clark International. According to the ch-aviation capacity module, PAL's domestic operations account for 17.7% of Ninoy Aquino International's total weekly capacity.
In addition, PAL is also looking at assisting some regional airports with landing lights and other facilities to help promote more night-time operations. This, the COO said, would enable PAL to shift some local services that are currently forced to operate during the day-time, to night-time.
Government recently committed to transferring all General Aviation flights from Manila Ninoy Aquino to Manila Sangley Airport in Cavite. This is expected to free up 10% of all available hourly slots. The airport's two runways are currently able to handle about forty movements per hour.
Earlier this year, government announced it was proceeding with plans to construct a second gateway for the capital. Though its exact location has yet to be settled on, the airfield will be located within 20kilometres of the Manila CBD and will feature up to four active runways once fully operational.
