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NAIA loses P1B in revenue amid COVID-19 crisis -MIAA
By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, GMA News The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has lost around P1 billion in revenues amid the COVID-19 crisis, which has forced a drastic reduction of airport operations as authorities attempted to arrest further virus transmission, an official said Thursday.
At the Laging Handa briefing, Manila International Airport Authority general manager Ed Monreal said the P1-billion revenue loss was recorded end-April.
In one of the latest travel sector efforts against COVID-19, passenger and commercial flights to and from the Philippines were temporarily suspended starting May 3. Cargo, utility, maintenance, and emergency flights as well as those carrying medical supplies are exempted.
Because of the suspension, only 2 or 3 passenger flights arrive at NAIA per day, a far cry from the daily average of 768 flights the gateway was used to seeing pre-COVID-19, Monreal said. The airport's operations are below 10% of its capacity, he added.
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"Siguro po we have to build the passenger confidence in terms of traveling," he said, adding that this could be achieved if Filipinos follow quarantine rules so that their areas will be free of COVID-19.
In the "new normal," the official said airport personnel will be required to use face masks, medical staff will have complete personal protective equipment, and proper hygiene will be "strictly enforced."
He also said they are setting up social distancing markers and acrylic barriers in airport counters.
Metro Manila and other areas considered at high risk for COVID-19 have been under an enhanced community quarantine since March and will remain in this status until May 15. Other places at low and moderate risk have transitioned to a general community quarantine. —AOL, GMA News