Passengers endure heat, long lines at NAIA

More than a thousand passengers were greatly inconvenienced by long queues in the sweltering heat at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I yesterday.

The passenger overflow came in the middle of the yesterday’s morning peak hours with five departing international flights, namely Japan Airlines going to Narita, Singapore Airlines going to Singapore, and Cathay Pacific Airways going to Hong Kong, and two of China Airlines going to Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Many overseas-bound Filipino passengers lamented having to suffer in the heat while falling in line at the terminal’s departure area curbside to get into the air-conditioned main lobby.

The progress of the long queue, it was learned, was greatly hindered by the meticulous and "excessively" strict body frisking conducted by security screeners manning the two entry points leading into the lobby.

"Even if the alarm of the walkthrough X-ray machine does not go off, they still frisk us thoroughly," one passenger complained.

Airport sources said that the strict screening at the terminal entry points being conducted was mainly due to the presence of "security auditors" of the United States’ Transportation Security Administration.

For his part, retired Brig. Gen. Angel Atutubo, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) assistant general manager for security said yesterday’s congestion at the departure area was brought about by the continued rise of passenger traffic and the lack of space to absorb the increased volume.

"Talagang pag peak hours, magkaka-congestion ng ganyan. Masikip na rin kasi talaga ang airport natin," Atutubo told The Star.

He pointed out that NAIA Terminal I was built to service about one million passengers a year.

"For this year, we expect six million," Atutubo said. "We really need to transfer to the new one (NAIA-3)."