Airports, ports still expecting passenger surge during Easter as travel costs rise
PASSENGER TRAFFIC is still expected to rise during the Easter travel season, with both ports and airports anticipating heavier volumes, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.
The PPA is projecting port passenger throughput of 2.46 million between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, up 2.07% from a year earlier.
According to the port regulator, passenger traffic is expected to increase at Batangas Port, Iloilo River Wharf, Calapan Port, Jordan Port, and Bredco Port.
The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), said it is expecting 1.35 million passengers to travel during the week, against 1.33 million over the same period last year.
“NNIC said passenger demand remains strong, although the increase is lower than earlier expected due to flight suspensions and operating restrictions affecting some Middle East services,” it said.
It said it deployed more personnel at check-in counters, immigration and security screening areas to help manage the expected passenger influx.
NNIC’s new terminal assignments took effect on March 29. Terminals 1 and 3 will serve international flights. Terminals 2, 4, and the proposed Terminal 5 are designated for domestic operations.
NNIC said traffic will peak during the week at 158,884 passengers, with passenger volume averaging 143,000 daily.
It said Terminal 3 is expected to handle 712,932 passengers during the period, followed by Terminal 2 with 346,342 and Terminal 1 with 293,990.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said it ordered all regional directors to conduct roadworthiness inspections at bus and other public utility vehicle terminals.
“This is a yearly exodus and we expect more people and motor vehicles again to be on the road on their way to the provinces for religious observances, vacations and other activities,” LTFRB Chairman Vigor D. Mendoza said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) said it is deploying additional personnel and providing round‑the‑clock basic mechanical services at all North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic‑Clark‑Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) rest and refuel stations.
MPTC, the tollway arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), also said that roadworks, lane closures and maintenance activities are also suspended during the Holy Week.
MPTC, the country’s largest toll road developer and operator, manages major expressways including the NLEX, SCTEX, Manila-Cavite Expressway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, and the NLEX Connector Road.
MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., holds a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
