NAIA 3 baggage system glitch causes delays
Passengers flying from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are facing significant disruptions due to a malfunctioning baggage handling system, resulting in baggage delivery delays.
Images of luggage piled up at the airport are circulating on social media, fueling frustration among passengers, including those flying with Cebu Pacific.
According to the local budget airline, it is "actively addressing passenger concerns" amid the "ongoing technical issues."
"We are working closely with the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) which is also exerting every effort to resolve the technical challenges as quickly as possible and restore normal operations," Cebu Pacific wrote in a statement on Oct. 22.
The Gokongwei-led airline said that it has a dedicated team to respond to the situation and has offered passengers options to claim their baggage via delivery to their destination or pick up at the airport for domestic flights.
“For international flights, a similar option was available along with delivery services for passengers with onward destinations. Our teams are doing everything in their power to expedite baggage deliveries and ensure all affected passengers are assisted promptly,” it added.
Cebu Pacific also told the media that technical issues have been ongoing since Friday, Oct. 18.
“We understand the inconvenience this has caused and appreciate our passengers' patience and understanding,” it concluded.
In a separate statement, NNIC said it is "working closely with Cebu Pacific" and has increased manpower to speed up baggage processing.
“Additionally, alternative systems and protocols have been activated to resolve the issue as swiftly as possible,” the statement read.
As per the NNIC, the technical issues show the “urgent need to upgrade NAIA’s aging infrastructure."
“Since taking over management on Sept. 14, NNIC has been working in phases to modernize the airport’s facilities and critical systems,” the airport operator said.
It added that it will replace the 20-year-old baggage handling system, noting that it has procured a new, advanced system, with additional redundancy measures to prevent future disruptions and enhance operational efficiency.
The NNIC took over the airport’s operations on Sept. 14 after winning the bidding in February.
Its first order of business was to rehabilitate the airport, including the expansion of Terminals 2 and 3 and the repurposing of Terminal 4 into a warehouse and office.
Earlier this month, NNIC announced higher parking rates that will take effect starting Oct. 1.
Several airlines including AirSwift and Sunlight Air have relocated to another terminal.
Meanwhile, some airlines recently proposed to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to implement up to a P300 additional fee per flight to cover the rising flight costs to NAIA.
For domestic flights, carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines propose a P75 terminal enhancement fee per way, meaning passengers must pay an additional P150 or more for a round trip.
For international flights, Cebu Pacific and PAL are seeking a terminal enhancement fee of P300 per flight, while AirAsia Philippines is proposing a P275 fee for foreign trips within Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.
The additional fees will cover the higher service charges at NAIA imposed by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) following the takeover in September.