Luggage fiasco at NAIA 3 proves airport fees hike is premature and unfair, says consumer group

A consumer advocacy group on Thursday said the recent luggage fiasco at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 proves that the huge increase in airport fees, including take-off and landing fees, are premature and unfair.

CitizenWatch Philippines made the statement after news reports came out that over 800 pieces of luggage have been left behind by departing NAIA 3 passengers after the terminal’s baggage handling system malfunctioned.

“Imposing all these fee adjustments while immediately failing customers just weeks after the takeover of the NAIA by NNIC (New NAIA Infrastructure Corp.) is clearly not the best way to win the confidence and support of the passengers and the travelling public. Sadly, this is yet another blow to the reputation of NAIA further worsening its notoriety,” said CitizenWatch Co-convenor Atty. Kit Belmonte.

“The recent debacle regarding the luggage handling system in NAIA Terminal 3 on October 22 should not be overlooked after having inconvenienced hundreds, if not thousands, of passengers of the airport,” he added.

Belmonte also emphasized that the baggage problem justifies that calls that several groups earlier made about stopping the implementation of Administrative Order 1 (AO 1), which imposed the significant fee hikes at NAIA.

“While the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. may argue that it can be blamed directly due to the ongoing improvements of the facility, it has to be stated that these only justifies our persistent calls to the DOTR (Department of Transportation) to halt Administrative Order 1 (AO1) for it to again be studied and further reviewed thereby ensuring that the impact of the improvements are realized first before fee adjustments are to be considered,” he said.

Belmonte calls on the public, who are most affected by the fees increase, to share their grievances about these concerns and make their voices heard.

“While we all hope for immediate improvements of our airports and aviation facilities, we call on the public to be partners of change and become proactive voices in sharing our grievances and advancing public interest. The airport fee hikes need a serious rethink,” Belmonte said.