All flights will operate at NAIA Terminal 1 starting March 28

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced Thursday the streamlining of its operations by concentrating remaining flights in one terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

This as “more and more air carriers suspend operations due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),“ MIAA said in an advisory.

Starting 12:01 a.m. of March 28, 2020, the following airlines will be operating to and from NAIA Terminal 1:

• Gulf Air
• Korean Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• China Airlines
• Hong Kong Air
• Eva Air
• Japan Airlines
• Jeju Air
• All Nippon Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Royal Brunei

MIAA said Oman Air will cease operations beginning March 26, while Singapore Airlines and Royal Brunei have announced suspension of flights to and from Manila beginning March 29, 2020.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal made the announcement after consultation with the Airline Operators Council (AOC) and following the instructions of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to explore ways to minimize exposure of airport workers while ensuring continuous operations in NAIA.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines has earlier announced suspension of international flight operations starting March 26. 

PAL made its last flights out on March 25 of its Manila-San Francisco (PR104)  and Manila-Los Angeles (PR102). 

Return flights of the two routes will be on Friday, March 27, 2020 at the NAIA Terminal 1.

After these arrivals, PAL will cease to operate for the meantime, according to the MIAA.

The following local and foreign airlines have ceased international flight operations:

• Cebu Pacific
• Philippine Airlines
• Air Asia
• Delta Airlines
• United Airlines
• Qantas Airways
• Turkish Airlines
• Emirates Airlines
• KLM
• Air China
• Air New Guinea
• China Eastern
• China Southern
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Jet Star Asia
• Kuwait Airlines
• Malaysian Airlines
• Saudia Airlines
• Royal Brunei Airlines
• Thai Airways
• Tiger Airways
• Xiamen Airlines

It may be recalled that the MIAA has earlier closed NAIA Terminal 4, Terminal 2 domestic wing and Terminal 3 domestic, after a ban on domestic air travel was issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Since, landing and take-off have dramatically dropped from the usual 768 flight movements per day to 50 movements as air carriers began suspending their operations after foreign governments enacted closing down of their borders to curb the spread of the dreaded coronavirus, according to MIAA.

The MIAA’s move to streamline airport operations is a three-pronged approach —support government in its ECQ efforts because less personnel will have to report for work and will be confined to their homes thereby reducing exposure to the virus; reduce cost on utilities by closing down NAIA T2, T3 and T4; and, afford ground handling companies with a cheaper way of managing their logistics.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has also been issued informing pilots around the world that only the NAIA Terminal 1 remains in operation for the duration of the ECQ.

The MIAA vowed to continue servicing sweeper flights and has designated NAIA Terminal 2 for the purpose.

Sweeper flights and repatriation flights to help foreign nationals return to their home countries, are jointly undertaken by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the embassies.

On the other hand, government repatriation efforts to bring home OFWs continues to this day, MIAA said. -MDM, GMA News