Premium airport buses to be available in mid-2016
Premium buses that will transport passengers to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) would be seen on the road by mid next year.
Garrie David of Airfreight 2100 (Air21) said the first 21 premium airport buses will start operation by May or June next year.
To recall, Air21 bested two other bidders for the government's accreditation to operate the first premium airport bus service in Metro Manila.
Although Air21 won the exclusive accreditation from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) last August, processing of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) is still under way. The LTFRB has given Air21 six months to operate half of the 42-unit fleet it was authorizeed to operate around the NAIA Complex.
"While the orders have already been placed, the supplier requires nine to 12 months to deliver the units. These buses are not something you can buy off the shelf because of the specifications set by the government," David explained.
"The first batch of the buses can be operational by May of June next year at the latest," said the president of Ube Express, which manages Air21.
Under the government’s requirements, the premium airport buses must be equipped with onboard closedcircuit television cameras, onboard Wi-Fi, automated bus arrival electronic display and announcement system.
Each premium airport bus should have a 24 maximum seating capacity, low floor height, adequate luggage space and must run on Euro V or clean alternative fuel.
Air21 will invest 420 million to purchase the 42 bus units but David clarified that the firm will spend extra for operational expenses.
"The 420-million investment is only for the buses. We will spend extra to hire 120 drivers and 120 stewards, to maintain the motor pool and to spend for gasoline per day," he explained.
David admitted that it would take six months to one year for travelers to try and get used to the airport bus service. As of press time, passengers going to and from NAIA would still have to ride city buses, taxi or private vehicles.
"We would need to do our marketing campaign with the airline companies and hotels in order to inform people of this premium service that will be soon available to them," he added.
Once operational, the premium airport buses will operate in two routes: The first is the 24-kilometer NAIA – Roxas Boulevard area including Mall of Asia and Entertainment City, while the second is 18-kilometer NAIA – Makati Central Business District route.
Each route will have two subroutes, with one serving NAIA Terminal 1 and 2 and the other serving NAIA Terminal 3. Each route variant and sub-route will have no more than five stops, all within the "target zone" to ensure efficient travel period for passengers.
Air21 is also required to have authorized booking office in off-street stops and airport terminals to allow passengers conveniently and easily purchase tickets.
Originally a customs brokerage firm, Airfreight 2100 operates under the Lina Group of Companies, chaired by incumbent Bureau of Customs chief Alberto Lina. The company was rebranded as Air21 in 2002 as it developed into a logistics service provider.