President Benigno S. Aquino III is briefed on the status of passenger volume and traffic, airport security and assistance measures by Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr.,during the Inspection of Major Passenger Terminals in Metro Manila at the Departure Lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16, 2014) during the Inspection of Major Passenger Terminals in Metro Manila. The President wants to make sure that all security preparations are in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and NAIA Terminal 3 manager Engr. Octavio Lina.(MNS photo)
Manila, Philippines, AFP – President Benigno Aquino Wednesday hailed renovations to the Philippines’ main international airport, expressing optimism it would soon shake off its ranking on one website as the world’s worst airport.
Almost a year after he personally apologized for the failure of air-conditioning at Terminal 1 of Manila’s international airport, Aquino said the facility appeared to be completely different.
“It is like I have entered a completely different airport,” he told reporters as he inspected the 34-year-old terminal.
Asked by reporters if the terminal would no longer be called the world’s worst, Aquino told reporters: “That’s up to you, but they even raised the ceiling.”
Ninoy Aquino International Airport – named after the president’s father, who was assassinated there in 1983 – topped the list of worst airports on the travel website “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports” from 2011-2013.
Travelers have long criticized its “dilapidated facilities”, dishonest airport workers, rude officials and long waiting times, the website said.
However in its 2014 survey at http://www.sleepinginairports.net/2014/worst-airports.htm, the Manila terminal improved its standing – to only the fourth worst in the world, after Islamabad, Jeddah and Kathmandu airports.