No fun in RP’s NAIA; voted ‘worst airport in Asia

It isn’t as easy as Chicken Joy to sell the Philippines, as claimed by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, and not even his “It’s more fun in the Philippnes” slogan will work, because it is no fun for tourists coming to Manila with its airport being named as the worst airport in Asia.

While repairs and reconstruction are on their way for the badly shaped and negatively portrayed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, it nevertheless gained yet another blackeye after it was named as the worst airport in Asia by travel website Sleeping In Airports.

“With its collapsing ceilings, overcrowding, rampant bribery, and taxi drivers scamming travellers on fares, its easy to understand why ‘disappointed’ and ‘unbelievable’ are just a few of the words travellers use to describe Manila’s Terminal 1,” the website said.
Last year, Sleeping In Airports named NAIA 1 as the world’s worst airport.

The website acknowledged that the Philippine government has been working to improve NAIA 1’s facilities, but judging from the results of the survey it seems that travellers have yet to see any improvements.

“Travellers continue to complain about the long and numerous queues that begin outside the terminal. Once inside, there will be no time for naps and certainly no place for quiet rest and enjoyment as you’ll be busy going through various queues for the next few hours as you proceed to your gate,” it added.

Sleeping In Airports also advised travellers, who are transiting to another terminal, to look out for taxi drivers who rig their meters to jack up the fares. But it did note that airport authorities did crack down on the practice of taxi drivers in March.

Travellers have also reported corruption at the NAIA 1.

“More disconcerting are the number of reports we’ve received indicating officers asking for cash payments to expedite normal procedures. Shame,” the website said.

Other traveller complaints were long lines, crowds, insufficient seating, delays receiving bags on belt and poor quality restaurants.

Sought for comment, the Palace said the government continues to undertake renovation and engineering works to improve the facilities at the NAIA 1.

“The work at the airport is non-stop. Of course, we are always cognizant of the concerns of travelers and certainly we‘ll take this to (heart),” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

NAIA 1 shares the title of “worst” airport with several others. This year’s survey named “worst” airports for different regions.

The worst airport in North America is Los Angeles airport, while in Europe, the worst is Rome Fiumicino and in Middle East, it is the Jeddah airport. In Africa, the worst is Lagos airport; in South America and South Pacific, the worst airports are Caracas and Tonga.

For Sleeping In Airports’ annual Best and Worst Airports survey, travellers were asked which airports are the best and worst for sleeping or long transit.

Here is the list of worst airports in Asia according to Sleeping in Airports: Manila (NAIA 1), Mumbai, Islamabad, Singapore’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal, Kolkata, Jakarta, Hanoi, Chennai, Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal, and Bali. Jason Faustino, Daily Tribune