NAIA Terminal Fees Could Increase With Privatization

(SPOT.ph) Passengers flying through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) could face higher terminal fees with the transition to private management.

Following a successful bid by a consortium led by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), there is speculation that this privatization could lead to an increase in various airport charges, but is there basis to this claim?

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo that there is a possibility of a hike in terminal fees. However, it will still be subject to government approval.

“Posible, but not necessarily,” Bautista said. “Hindi sila basta-basta puwede magtaas. Kailangan muna may notable improvement [of the airport]."

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Increase in terminal fees at the NAIA?

Currently, NAIA's terminal fees stand at P200 for domestic flights and P550 for international flights—one of the cheapest in the world as per Bautista. He also compared them to other privately operated airports in the Philippines.

“Ang Cebu mas mataas pa kaysa Maynila, P750, pero makita mo naman maayos ‘yung operations nila. Ang Clark almost P750 na rin, pero dahil magaganda ‘yung mga facilities na ginawa. These are now operated by the private sector,” Bautisa said.

For Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines, a hike in terminal fees is not certain. However, he said that an increase in other airport charges is expected, if not overdue, noting that many fees have remained unchanged for over two decades.

"Definitely, we can expect some [increases] in terms of rentals, navigation charges, all of it. Really, it has been a long time—24 years. The last time was April 2000," Ines said.

NAIA’s terminal fees finance maintenance, security, and operational costs, alongside funding infrastructure improvements and emergency services at the airport. This is separate from travel tax, which is required to be paid to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

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