Duterte to airlines: Why stay in business if you can't provide convenience?

A week after he lamented the flight delays and cancellations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday reminded airlines that they needed to ensure the convenience of passengers.

Speaking at the 121st anniversary of the Philippine Navy, Duterte recalled the suffering of passengers over delayed flights.

"Merong isang eroplanong nag-landing and they stayed for five hours inside the plane --- incoming. So merong tumawag late ng two hours, mag-book sila ng hotel. Kawawa talaga ang riding public," he said.

"So I told PAL [Philippine Airlines] and the rest of the carriers -- the very essence of a common carrier, whether it is a jeep, a bus, an airplane, a ship --- ang common ano diyan is for public interest and public governance, and convenience. If you cannot provide convenience and comfort, do we ought not to be there at all?"

The president had directed the immediate transfer of general aviation or domestic flight operations to Sangley Point to ease congestion at NAIA, which he visited on June 10.

In response, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the contractor to finish the project on or before the November 2019 deadline set by the president.

"Sabi ko why don’t you look at the direction of Sangley? Maski na lang sa mga cargo, to ease up a bit ‘yung kuwan," Duterte said.

There has been renewed interest in building airports outside of Metro Manila, as NAIA—the country’s main gateway—has been operating over capacity.

The four NAIA terminals were designed to accommodate 31 million passengers a year, but currently serve at least 42 million passengers. — DVM, GMA News