GrabCar gets green light to ply at NAIA Terminals

Commuters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may hail a cab using the ride-sharing app GrabCar, starting March 14, Monday.

GrabCar Philippines was accredited by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to operate at the NAIA terminals.

MIAA Assistant General Manager Vicente Guerzon and Grab CEO Wee Tang Yee on Thursday signed the agreement allowing the transportation network company (TNC) to operate in all four NAIA terminals.

Only GrabCars with confirmed bookings may enter the airport and wait for passengers at specific pick-up stations. The agreement says that GrabCar vehicles have 2 minutes to fetch passengers at the airport.

GrabCar booths will be located at the main arrival curbside of Terminal 1, the inner arrival curbside between Bays 7 and 8 of Terminal 2, the secondary arrival curbside between Bays 5 and 8 of Terminal 3, and the curbside of Terminal 4.

Commuters may alight from GrabCar vehicles at these points or book a ride with the help of booking agents.

The fare is similar to normal GrabCar rides – P30 base, plus P12 per kilometer.

Healthy competition

MIAA spokesperson David de Castro noted the concession fee and other related fees in under the agreement are covered by a confidentiality clause to avoid putting Grab at a disadvantage.

Guerzon, who is incharge of airport security and emergency services, noted that the MIAA held prior consultations other transport partners before deciding to allow TNCs at NAIA terminals.

He said the move should stimulate healthy competition among the transport providers at airports.

Complaints may be directed to GrabCar and MIAA, though issues forwarded to MIAA will be passed on to Grab.

GrabCar is the first ride-sharing app to be accredited by the MIAA. Only its cars are specified under the agreement though it may forward other services to the airport authority.

It approached the airport authority for accreditation in August and October 2015. competitor Uber touched based with MIAA only last January.

Guerzon noted that GrabCar will help address the "shortage of public utility" vehicles at the airport, and partially fulfill a proposal by the MIAA for airports, hotels, malls, and app-based transportation service providers to form partnerships.

The airport authority earlier asked GrabCar and Uber to undergo the accreditation process so the companies may be able to operate at the NAIA. – VDS/GMA News