Biz group proposes NAIA ‘emergency runway’ for unhampered flights
MANILA, Philippines — A business group has proposed the creation of an “emergency runway” at the aging Ninoy Aquino International Airport to ensure unhampered flight operations, days after a Chinese plane's bumpy landing caused the cancelation of around 165 international and local flights.
Management Association of the Philippines committee on national issues chair Eduardo Yap said the existing taxiway beside NAIA’s main runway must be improved to serve two functions: as a taxiway and an emergency runway.
He said the proposed emergency runway will only be used when the main runway is closed, and not for simultaneous flight operations.
“London's Gatwick has such a runway, which is called a maintenance-cum-emergency runway. It is narrower in width and shorter than its main runway and located just 100 meters away,” Yap explained in an interview, referring to the UK's second busiest airport.
“Because of this, London Gatwick is the most efficient single-runway airport in the world with 45 million passengers last year,” he added. “This is a solution that NAIA airport authorities should look into and, if feasible, to quickly implement.”
Xiamen Airlines incident
The Xiamen Airlines Boeing 737 landed on its second attempt before skidding onto the grass, blocking the NAIA runway last Thursday.
Normal operations resumed on Saturday, but some had criticized the perceived slowness in the recovery of the disabled Chinese plane.
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Seeing the deterioration of the Manila airport, the Duterte administration has been entertaining proposals to build airports outside the capital and give NAIA a makeover.
The government early this month reportedly gave a consortium of seven conglomerates the much sought-after original proponent status for its plan to rehabilitate NAIA. The multi-billion peso offer seeks to transform NAIA into a regional hub that will compete with Singapore’s Changi Airport and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Following last week’s mishap at NAIA, MAP called on the government to fast-track the approval of offers from the private sector to upgrade the overstretched airport.
The group also said a concurrent expansion of the Clark International Airport would ensure that future air traffic bottlenecks are prevented.
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