ANA Arrives Manila

First Foreign Airline at Terminal 3

March 1, 2011

MANILA - For the first time since the government took possession of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3 (Naia 3) seven years ago, a foreign airline finally began operations here on Sunday, promising what could be the start of the terminal’s full rehabilitation and commercial use for both domestic and international operations. 

All Nippon Airways (ANA), the second-largest airline company in Japan, landed on Sunday as scheduled at the NAIA Terminal 3 from Narita, the first foreign airline to do so after it flew yesterday 108 passengers, 14 of which were seated in business class.

Majority of the passengers were Japanese, with the aircraft departing from Narita Airport at 5:55 p.m. local time and arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 at 9:50 p.m. using a 214-seater Boeing 767-300 plane for daily service to Tokyo.

“This is an historic occasion in line with President Aquino’s promise to lure more tourists to come to the Philippines,” said Manila International Airport Authority general manager Jose Honrado.

Honrado also disclosed that starting March this year, a team would start conducting tests on Terminal 3’s other facilities to make way for two other foreign airlines slated to Join ANA before June this year.

Honrado revealed that Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines are only waiting for the completion of the test before they start constructing their own passenger lounges, check-in counters, computer system and others.

The Terminal was constructed by Takenaka, the Japanese construction firm that was awarded contract for the passenger terminal’s rehabilitation at a cost of almost P2 billion.