Air transport group urges PH to finalize aviation master plan

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) is urging the government to finalize an aviation master plan for the Metro Manila region to help provide stakeholders a long-term vision of the country’s air sector.

The move comes as the government deals with worsening air congestion around Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), which has limited expansion options.

Alternatives include developing Clark International Airport in Pampanga, but it has been agreed that a railway link to Metro Manila was needed. In recent months, big private sector groups have pitched possible sites for a new international air gateway serving the capital district and nearby provinces.

“Iata’s view is we have looked at enough proposals, it’s time to do something,” Vinoop Goel, Iata Asia-Pacific regional director for airport, passenger, cargo and security, told reporters Wednesday.

Goel, who spoke during an event introducing the new role of IT aviation company SITA in Naia, said the government needed to outline a clear airport strategy for the capital district.

The urgency comes as Naia, which was designed to handle about 31 million passengers annually, was close to accommodating 37 million passengers last year.

Statistics provided by Iata point to a problem that could only get worse if left unattended.

The airline trade group said the Philippines handled a total of 60 million passengers in 2014, contributing about 1.4 million jobs. By 2035, that will balloon to 140 million passengers and contribute 3.4 million jobs.