Manila airport leads in ticket incorporation of terminal fee

REPRESENTATIVES of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and 33 airlines yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement to integrate the P550 international passenger service charge (IPSC) -- known also as terminal fee -- to airline tickets, which will be implemented this October.


 Michael Arthur C. Sagcal, spokesperson said in a text message: “MIAA had the memorandum of agreement signing ceremony this morning.”

A check with MIAA’s Public Affairs Department showed the 33 airlines were: Air Asia Zest; Air Asia, Inc.; Air China Ltd.; Air Niugini; Air Philippines Corp. (PAL Express); All Nippon Airways Company Ltd.; Asiana Airlines, Inc.; Cebu Air, Inc.; Cathay Pacific; China Airlines; China Eastern Company Ltd.; China Southern Airlines Company Ltd.; Dragon Airlines Ltd.; Emirates Airlines; Etihad Airlines; Gulf Air; Japan Airlines; Jeju Air; KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; Korean Airlines Company Ltd.; Malaysian Airlines System Berhad; Philippine Airlines, Inc.; Qantas Airways Ltd.; Qatar Airways; Royal Brunei SDN Berhad; Singapore Airlines Ltd.; Thai Airways; Tiger Airways Singapore Ltd.; Kuwait Airways; Jetstar Asia Airways; Saudia Airlines; United Airlines; and Eva Air.

CONGESTION
Early last month, MIAA had said integration of IPSC should help ease congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and free up a sizeable area after terminal fee counters are removed.

MIAA General Manager Jose Angel A. Honrado had noted “exceptions mandated by law, such as overseas Filipino workers, Muslim pilgrims and national athletes endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission” who should not be charged the IPSC.

Children ages two years and below are also exempted from the P550 terminal fee.

The Transport department has also asked other airport authorities such as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIA) and Clark International Airport Corp. to follow in NAIA’s wake in integrating the terminal fee to airline ticket costs.

The integration program will begin in October and is expected to be implemented nationwide within a year from that month.

MIAA collects the P550 terminal fee for maintenance of the airport (P390) and aviation security (P60), with P100 going to the national government.

For domestic flights from NAIA, the P200 terminal fee has been included in airline tickets since August 2012. -- CJVDP

source:  Businessworld