Group asks BBM to break up NAIA cargo monopoly

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A Customs brokers’ group has asked President Marcos to break up cargo monopoly at NAIA and open a gate with ramp access to allow other warehouses to transport cargo directly to and from aircraft.

Two gates—one built in 2020 and another earlier this year—were shut down by court injunctions based on complaints by several groups.

The first complainant claimed ownership of MIAA property while the other claimed that the gates would infringe on passengers’ rights. The second conplainant posted a P2 million bond.

As a result, only one operator has ramp access. “If this were a horse race, all the gates would be locked except for one. And the bettors, in this case the 37 foreign airlines, have no choice but to sign up with the lone runner”, the Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers said in an open letter to the President.

The brokers’ group said the additional gates are crucial to making NAIA a regional and transshipment hub especially given its strategic location.

It said right now shippers use other countries because the lone NAIA cargo operator sometimes takes 12 hours to sort out one container from an aircraft, worsening the queue of trucks on Sucat outside NAIA waiting to deliver or pick up cargo.

The group said the New NAIA Infra Corporation, the private company rehabilitating NAIA, has implemented several measures to improve passenger experience in the short time it took over the airport.

It added, however, that cargo deserves equal attention. Passenger services address tourism while cargo will improve trade.

Both will lead to economic growth, investments and innovation, and job generation.

Christmas cargo flow is peaking and action is needed soonest, the letter said.