‘Unfair’ to call NAIA the world’s worst airport, says manager

The manager of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 expressed dismay after a travel website named the airport the worst in the world, GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation" newscast reported Thursday. “It’s rather unfair, dahil we are working so hard to improve the services and facilities at the premier airport," NAIA-1 terminal manager Dante Basanta said in an interview with GMA reporter Dano Tingcungco.
Basanta was referring to NAIA’s recently acquired label as the world’s worst airport in “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports," a site that reviews the quality and facilities of the world’s airports. Basanta, who toured Tingcungco around the airport, showed improvements such as refurbished cealings, upholstered seats, and a more spacious arrival area. Tingcungco himself checked one of the airport’s restrooms, which critics said lack basic facilities. The restroom that Tingcungco checked had running water, soap, and a functioning tissue dispenser, among other things. “It proves that we are doing something," Basanta said, adding that NAIA had been implementing reforms even before its negative online ratings came out. But Basanta admitted that airport authorities can only do so much. “We cannot compete with other airports kasi hindi naman masyadong modern ang airport natin. We can only do so much with the old facilities," he said. “Binabawi naman natin yon sa services natin" The government is exploring other ways to improve airport services, including the transfer of the Philippines’ premier international airport to Clark in Pampanga. – PE/MRT, GMA News