MANILA — Airline companies on Thursday agreed to use the Sangley airport in Cavite province for general aviation and turboprop operations to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“It was a productive and mutually beneficial meeting. Airlines expressed their willingness and commitment to support the government’s thrust to utilize Sangley airport. This is a solid demonstration of their trust and confidence in the administration of President Duterte,” Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement.
Tugade was joined at the meeting by Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, Michael Tan of Philippine Airlines, Lance Gokongwei of Cebu Pacific, and Capt. Dexter Comendador of AirAsia.
General aviation users will be notified within a year to relocate to the Clark International Airport (CRK) in Pampanga and Sangley airport to ease congestion in the four terminals of NAIA to allow for improvements in its main gateway.
General aviation refers to all civil aviation operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work which includes light aircraft, business, and private jets or helicopters.
Earlier, Tugade has ordered the 24/7 construction of the facilities of Sangley airport in compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to start its operations in November in order to decongest NAIA.
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