MIAA loses P1B revenue due to COVID-19 pandemic

The Manila International Airport Administration (MIAA) announced a loss of P1 billion in its revenue collection as the country continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal attributed the losses to the reduction of the number of flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA.

He said only two to three flights are allowed at the NAIA after Metro Manila was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The average number of daily flights before the COVID-19 pandemic was 768.

A week-long suspension of inbound international flights has also contributed to the losses. 

“Sa ngayon po, mayroon pong pinakarami na bago mag-suspend ng incoming flights ay nasa minsan 10 [commercial] flights a day na lang po natin. So talagang wala pang 10 percent ang operasyon ng ating paliparan (before incoming flights were suspended, 10 commercial flights a day came in. We are not even reaching ten percent in operating capacity) ,” he said.

Monreal said they are now preparing health protocols that will take effect when the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Diseases (IATF) switches Metro Manila from ECQ to general community quarantine (GCQ). The switching is set to happen on May 15.

He said all airport passengers and employees will be required to wear facemasks and observe health protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH) to keep COVID-19 from spreading.

The Philippines has recorded more than 10,000 confirmed cases as of May 6.