MANILA, Oct 29 (PNA) — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Wednesday announced that all systems are “go” for the integration of the terminal fee into the cost of airline tickets next month.
MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said the integration of the terminal fee into the cost of airline ticket will begin November 1.
Honrado explained that the first effort to integrate dates back to 20 years ago. However, there were issues where MIAA and the airlines had difficulty agreeing on.
“Finally, both parties are able to see a win-win solution to these issues. This is a dream come true for everyone,” Honrado further stated.
According to MIAA, the integration of the terminal fee will be implemented simultaneously by all airlines worldwide and will also cover passengers transiting Manila to any destination point.
It will first go through a transition period until it is expected to be fully implemented by October 2015, when all tickets purchased/issued prior to November 1 this year will have been flown.
Under the scheme, the services of the air carriers will be engaged in the collection of the terminal fee through its inclusion in the airline ticket.
Despite this development, the airport official did not discount the concerns being raised by groups opposing the integration.
“Everyone has the right to be heard. Their plan to bring their issues to court is a right they are exercising. Same right to be heard was also our basis why we worked so hard on this effort. This integration has been the clamor over the years from passengers using NAIA,” he said.
He, meanwhile, allayed fears of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that they have to line up for refund clarifying that exemptions will be honored at the point of sale provided the OFWs and others exempted can show proof of entitlement or exemption.
MIAA said that in the case of OFWs, it is the OEC, however, this will not apply for tickets bought abroad or online as there is no way to verify the proof of entitlement.
In 2013, a total of 7,671,643 passengers departed from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Out of this, 1,975,695 were OFWs who lined up at the terminal fee counters and presented their overseas employment certificates (OECs) to avail of the exemption.
MIAA, however, assured that once integration is in place, only 10 percent or 197,569 OFW passengers will buy their tickets online or abroad and will have to line up for refund.
The refund process has no expiration period.
It can be done prior to departure at the refund counters in the Terminals or upon return to the Philippines or through a representative to be processed at the MIAA Administration Building, subject to presentation of OEC or exemption certificate, MIAA said. (PNA)