There is never a shortage of airline passengers complaining about the “terrible” service after a flight. The story is the same every time: Lost baggage, mile-long queues, decrepit facilities, food completely devoid of taste, and the crown jewel of airport fiascos–delayed flights. People are `quick to blame the failure of our country to match up to international standards such as Singapore’s perpetually fragrant Changi airport, or the monumental JFK airport in New York.
Most Filipinos would trace the problem to the inability of their countrymen to simply perform efficiently. The truth is that this issue goes beyond a simple problem of incompetence–we are, in fact, hindered by a lack of resources and proper infrastructure.
The gritty reality is that airports, particularly those in the Philippines, are suffering from a globalized problem of air traffic. Once-blue skies scraped only by buildings have now become one of the busiest and most hectic avenues of transportation.
The volume of airplanes circumnavigating the globe have amassed over thousands. In a year, there are approximately 37.4 million flights worldwide. The influx of passengers is wrought by more and more people earning enough to afford airfare, and simultaneously, the cost of flying becoming much cheaper (Think Php 1 promos, group bundles, and seasonal discounts). Airplane travel has become more accessible to the average Joe, no longer the luxury that it once was.
As of 2017, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the busiest in the Philippines, with a passenger traffic of 21,539,823. Compared to international statistics, NAIA ranks the 47th busiest in the world.
It is not a problem of too many aircrafts–this would have been fine, if not for the fluky ergonomics that went into the construction of NAIA. The airport boasts of four terminals, all of which share the same runway. NAIA operates on only two intersecting runways. Most airports around the world have parallel runways, which enables simultaneous landing and takeoff. Given our intersecting runways, aircrafts cannot depart and arrive at the same time; this means only one plane at a time can either land or takeoff.
The first runway is 3,737 meters, and the second measures 2,258 meters. However, the standard length for a commercial runway ranges from 2,438.4 to 3,962.4 meters. NAIA’s second runway is then reserved for landing smaller planes, as this restriction only furthers the airport’s handicap, as it practically only uses the first runway.
This is not a problem that can be solved overnight, much to the dismay of us impatient Filipinos. No matter how efficient the employees are, they will constantly be hampered by facilities that are trapped in conditions from the 1980s.
The good news: Clark International Airport is currently being expanded, and the government is promoting it to be an alternative to trim the passenger congestion in NAIA.
While it might be some time before the expansion finishes, it’s a right relief that the government is working towards making the airline industry more efficient and sustainable. With regards to its effectiveness, we’ll just have to wait and see.
