* This is my article in BusinessWorld last September 27, 2017.
See also:
“Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is
the worst airport in the world” is a cliché that we often hear and read. But
how true is this statement based on quantitative and technical criteria?
I have not seen technical reports on this yet but for
this piece, I will make some anecdotal data based on my two foreign trips last
week.
First I went to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia to attend the
Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia meeting and conference 2017. Then I went to
New York City, USA to attend a meeting on intellectual property and trademarks
protection partly organized by the Property Rights Alliance (PRA). My think
tank, Minimal Government Thinkers, is a member of both EFN Asia and PRA and my plane
fare and hotel accommodations were shouldered by several organizations.
These were my travel dates last week: (a)
Manila-KL-Manila, September 10 to 12; (b) Manila-New York-Manila via
Incheon-Seoul, September 13 to 18.
Below is a summary of my experience, items #3 to 8. In
parenthesis are years the airports have become operational.
Sources, #1 and 2: Airports Council International (ACI),
wikipedia.
ACI’s top 10 busiest airports in 2016 were: (1)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlantata, USA; (2) Beijing Capital, China; (3) Dubai, UAE;
(4) Los Angeles, USA; (5) Haneda-Tokyo, Japan; (6) O’hare-Chicago, USA; (7)
Heathrow-London, UK; (8) Hong Kong; (9) Pudong-Shanghai, China; (10) Charles De
Gaulle-Paris, France.
I have almost no complaints about the KLIA. It is big,
wide, and modern. Aside from airport taxis, uber and grab cars, passengers can
take the express or high-speed train to KL Sentral station in the city center
(fare about 35 ringgit, 30 minutes) then take the cab or MRT/subway from there.
I took the airport coach, which charged only 10 ringgit, and the travel time
was about 60 minutes. I then took the MRT/subway, with a fare only 2.70 ringgit
to Ampang Park, which is near the hotel venue of EFN meeting.
I have several complaints about the JFK-NY airport,
mainly on the various delays as summarized in the table above. In addition,
there is road congestion at the JFK airport’s passengers pick up area. Lots of
waiting cars, frequent double parking, and no airport personnel at that time to
restrain motorists from blocking the road. I saw these around 10 pm while
waiting for the airport bus.
There was no free internet at JFK arrival area. At the
departure area, there is one but it is hijacked by boingo, charging about $5 an
hour. Boingo has “free 30 minutes” internet but one must watch the sponsors’
ads, and it is very slow. In short, I was not able to check the web there.
But one advantage of JFK is its connection to cheap mass
transportation systems.
On my arrival, I took the airport bus to Manhattan, Port
Authority terminal at 42nd street, paid $18 for the more than one hour trip. I
then paid $2.75 and took the subway to my destination. When I left, I took the
subway from uptown to JFK airport then skytrain, which cost me only $7.75. A
taxi from uptown to the airport would cost about $70-75 including toll fees and
tip to the driver.
I am not a frequent traveler, I take an average of only
three foreign trips per year (all sponsored) mostly in Asia, and so my
perspective will be limited compared to other people who make more than ten
trips a year. Nonetheless, these are some things that the government and NAIA
management may consider.
One, finalize the alternative airport to NAIA and start
the work soon via integrated PPP, not hybrid PPP. While there is overall
recognition of this need due to existing and future congestions, there is
continued delay in the final decision as to where that airport shall be – at
Sangley Point in Cavite, or Bulacan or Clark-Pampanga, or somewhere else.
Two, keep the freebies like free internet, have free
drinking water fountains (currently there is none), keep the immigration
entry/exit fast. And avoid scandals like “laglag bala” (of the past
administration) and robbery/extortion of rich passengers. Just kick out and
file charges against airport or immigration personnel involved in those
scandals.
Three, expand the airport bus in all four terminals to
more destinations other than Pasay-Makati. With heavy daily traffic in Metro
Manila, passengers from far away cities like QC, Navotas, or Antipolo, should
avoid being driven to or from NAIA.
Government should allow and encourage the energy,
financial resources, and technical expertise of the private sector in finding
various solutions to airport and road congestion.
--------------
See also:
BWorld 151, Mining taxes per hectare of land, September 22, 2017
BWorld 152, Cronyism in Renewable energy, gas sectors? September 23, 2017
BWorld 153, Property rights, trademarks and consumer protection, September 30, 2017
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