"Airline operators insist on Manila terminal 3 lease contract"

Sunday, February 6, 2005

Airline operator insist on NAIA 3 lease contract
By RECTO MERCENE
Philippines - Today


The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Friday failed to give
the Airline Operators Council (AOC) the lease contract it had promised to
deliver on February 4 as a government's guarantee that the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) would open on June 21. 

However, the AOC could not give comments because of the gag order issued to
them by their superiors, the Bureau of Airline Representatives (BAR). 

BAR chairman Felix Curz told the media that they are willing to cooperate
with the MIAA. "We want maximum flexibility for the benefit of everybody,"
he said, adding that they still have enough time to meet the deadline to
transfer even if the lease contract would be issued later. 

On the other hand, the Operational Readiness for Airport Terminal Transfer
placed the burden of transfer on the AOC's shoulders, confident that the
lease contract would not be a hindrance to a successful operations of NAIA 3
four months from now. 

"We just have to request the airlines [AOC] to speed up the process of
approval of their transfer from their parent companies because general
manager Alfonso Cusi had dialogued with their bosses, who have expressed
full support of the airport management," according to Judith Dolot, manager
of the Public Affairs Office and top executives. 

The "bosses" Dolot refers to are the BAR, which oversees the commercial
aspects of the air carriers operations, as opposed to the AOC, which manages
the operational aspects of the airlines.

The AOC has been vocal about having the lease contract signed before they
commit their airlines to transfer to NAIA 3, saying that they would not like
to compromise their respective carriers spending a total of $500 million to
furnish the new airline counters, offices and computer connections. 

The members, who are all holding offices at the airport, said that without a
documented commitment from the government, they are afraid that they would
be holding an empty bag if the PIATCO won its legal battle against the
government. 

The AOC requires a maximum six months to undertake the construction of their
respective offices, the training of personnel, ground handlers and service
providers to meet the international standards of airline operations. 

The MIAA is attempting to speed up the transfer to NAIA 3 to meet the June
21 deadline issued by President Arroyo. 

In this regard, the government agencies have opted to go ahead and attempt
to put the NAIA 3 back into operations by trying to hold talks with
Takenaka, the Japanese partner of the Philippine International Airline
Terminal Co. (PIATCO), lead consortium that built the $500 million
world-class terminal. Takenaka holds the layout plans for the building,
including equipment and machineries that would operate the passenger
tubes.Piatco allegedly owes Takenaka some $80 million, which the former said
is part of the payment that they are asking for taking over NAIA 3,
including the claims of its German partner, Fraport AG. 

One of the major projects that the AOC wanted done immediately if the
transfer is to be realized is for the MIAA to undertake as soon as possible
is the construction of the service road that would link NAIA 3 to NAIA 1. 

This service road would accommodate the estimated 50 tons of cargo what
would be unloaded daily and brought to their respective bonded warehouses,
freight forwarders and brokers by all 29 airlines to NAIA 1 once the NAIA 3
is in full swing.


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