MANILA – House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has extended to six months the initial 45-day deadline for airline companies to transfer their domestic flights to Clark International Airport (CRK), in a bid to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a press conference on Wednesday, Alvarez said six months was the recommended timeline of airport authorities for the complete terminal reorganization at NAIA.
“So from 45 (days), tingin ko naman masyadong reasonable iyung assessment ng airport authority. So, sabi ko, okay na siguro (So from 45 days, I think the assessment of airport authorities is quite reasonable. So I said that’s fine with me),” Alvarez said.
Alvarez had earlier directed Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) officials to divert domestic flights to other airports such as Clark International Airport to ease congestion at the NAIA.
Alvarez told airline companies to comply with government rules or face possible cancellation of their franchises.
In an earlier hearing, some airline executives had told him a one-year timeline was more doable, especially considering that many plane tickets are bought one year in advance.
