Despondency of air travellers
So, how was your experience at the airport this past week? Any major or minor development in the Philippine aviation industry?
I hate to admit it but I have developed some sort of paranoia in travelling nowadays. First, I get anxious about the delays since I’ve had a ten-hour experience of waiting for a plane to fly me to Boracay two years ago. The wait was due to multiple complications: overbooking, engine problem, cancellation of flight. I also dread the long lines at the counter and the crowded comfort rooms (you’ll need a diaper if you have bladder problems). Being kept inside an airplane for more than an hour due to the long queue before take-off is no joke. Upon returning to Manila from a local destination, you have to cross your fingers hoping for no delays. Upon the plane’s final approach, you pray that the pilot secures permission to land or else you can be kept flying for more than an hour before landing. As you land, you will need to wait for your assigned gate because even if there are other gates available, airport officials will not exhaust their means to open a gate. They need to follow strict guidelines which can be improved if you ask me. But the harassment is not yet over at this point because you will need to wait for your luggage which usually shows up after 30 minutes. Then you braise yourself for the agony of the traffic situation outside. And boom! You are back to reality! Such is the physical and mental state of air travellers in the country. Susmariosep!
During the first Philippine Aviation Day Conference last October 27, the stakeholders spoke about giving importance to the ‘flying’ public. Well, let me tell you that if they don’t act right away on the improvement of their propositions, flying will soon fall under the category of health hazards in the Philippines.
Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO of International Air Transport Association (IATA) was right when he said, “Aviation is vital to the Philippines. It supports 1.2 million jobs and $9.2 billion in GDP. The domestic network binds the country across 7,000 islands. International links keep families and businesses connected, and bring in tourists. But the social and economic benefits of air transport are at risk if the key issues of airport infrastructure, excessive regulation and taxation are not addressed.”
The following are de Juniac’s views. On Safety: “The industry is pleased to progress towards establishing a National Transportation Safety Board that will strengthen oversight. We are strongly supporting the implementation of a new air traffic management system which enhances safety and capacity through automation. And as these fundamental changes are being made, I encourage the government to consider making IOSA – the IATA Operational Safety Audit – a requirement for all Philippine AOC holders… And many governments have already included it in their oversight programs… Globally aviation remains a target for terrorists and it is a challenge to stay a step ahead of the threats.”
On Infrastructure: “NAIA was built to handle 30 million passengers but is handling nearly 40 million passengers currently. There is an urgent need for an airport master plan to accommodate the growing demand for connectivity. Top priorities must be: Urgently implementing proposals to enhance the runway and terminal capacities at NAIA. This will provide the much needed additional capacity (to the maximum of the airport’s physical constraints) until a new airport is ready. Further developing Clark International Airport as a secondary, not primary, airport for Manila. Quickly deciding on a site within reasonable proximity of metropolitan Manila area where a two-runway airport could be built and expanded. There is no time to lose – every landing that cannot be accommodated is lost money and opportunity for the Philippine economy.”
On Excessive Regulation: “Well-constructed regulation has played a key role in making the industry safe and reliable. Excessively onerous regulation can be a huge burden on the ability of aviation to deliver its social and economic benefits… We are promoting smarter regulation which has some key attributes including: (1) respect for global standards where they exist; (2) focus on solving real problems; (3) the ability to pass rigorous cost-benefit analysis; and (4) it is transparent and does not distort competition.”
On Airfare caps: “In 2016, airfares in the Philippines were 77% cheaper than a decade before. Over the same period the number of destinations served directly from the Philippines increased from 40 to 55, while the number of travelers nearly tripled from 24 million to 64 million.”
On Overbooking: “The reality is that more bookings are made than people who actually fly. Managed overbooking helps fill the plane and keeps fares low. Revenue management systems watch trends and adjust the selling with tremendous accuracy. When they get things wrong, a flexible market solution, not inflexible regulation, is the answer.”
On Consumer protection: “The industry fully supports robust consumer protection in line with global standards and smarter regulation principles. But what is being proposed is misaligned and oversteps the national boundary. The Montreal Convention and ICAO’s principles for consumer protection are the model to follow.”
On Green Fee and Taxes: The Philippine government should avoid implementing a tourism tax and abandon a proposed Green Fee. De Juniac said that the economic and social benefits of tourism are compromised by tourism taxes. “Short-term budget gains quickly disappear when tourist arrivals drop. The government should focus on making wise investments in the tourism infrastructure that will encourage people to visit.” He also thinks that the proposed Green Fee is misguided and should be abandoned. Governments through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have agreed a global approach to climate change based on improvements in technology, infrastructure and operations. And there is an agreed Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation – CORSIA.
He concludes by saying: “By ensuring safety and security, addressing infrastructure deficiencies, aligning regulation to global standards and effectively addressing climate change we can set Philippine aviation on a successful trajectory. And that will be a powerful catalyst for growth and development.”
I hope that government, the legislative branch as well as Philippine air carriers take heed of IATA’s call so that the ‘flying’ public will all be spared from the nightmares of air traveling in the Philippines.