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CNN travel site tags NAIA as one of world's 'most hated airports'


After recently being tagged by a travel website as one of the world's worst airports to sleep in, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) gets bad publicity anew as CNN's travel website lists it as one of the world's 10 most hated airports. In an article posted on CNNGo.com, NAIA was ranked 5th on the list for its "filthy restrooms, seat shortages at gates... and an Amazing Race-style check-in routine spiked with bureaucracy." As of posting time, GMA News Online has yet to reach NAIA authorities for their comment. But the article quickly stressed that the most hated airports on its list are not necessarily the worst airports in the world. "What follow are 10 majorly despised international hubs (or hopefuls) that, while they may have a few staunch fans, and some have even won awards, have all inspired enough fury, flak and 'never again' air-rage to merit a place on the list," the article said. "Beleaguered by ground crew strikes, unkempt conditions, soup kitchen-style lines that feed into more lines and an overall sense of futility, NAIA brings the term 'Stuck in the 1970s' to a new level," the article said. It pointed out that all non-Philippine Airlines flights are crammed at Terminal 1, while the newer Terminal 3, which is occupied by a few minor carriers, is underused. The article also noted several reasons for hating NAIA, including charges of tampered luggage, broken escalators, and "creative airport departure fees." Number one on the list is the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France, which CNNGo described as the "most maligned major airport on earth." The eight other airports on the list are (from 10-2):

  • Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International in Sao Paulo, Brazil;
  • Perth Airport in Perth, Australia;
  • Tribhuvan International in Kathmandu, Nepal;
  • John F. Kennedy International in New York, USA;
  • Jomo Kenyatta International in Nairobi, Kenya;
  • Toncontin International in Tegucigalpa, Honduras;
  • London Heathrow in London, England; and
  • Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, USA. Worst airport In October this year, the website "The Guide to Sleeping in Airports" released a list of worst airports, which is meant to help their readers who are "airport sleepers" avoid airports that do not have what they identified as their "four C's": comfort, convenience, cleanliness, and customer service. NAIA was tagged number one on its list for its lack of pay-in lounges for transit passengers and reports of bribery and theft. "Airport taxes are collected, but the money does not seem to go towards the betterment of the airport," the website said. NAIA's poor rankings on the website caused an uproar on social media, prompting officials to look into NAIA's problems and propose makeover plans for the international airport. World-renowned Filipino designers even offered a pro-bono proposal to rehabilitate NAIA's Terminal 1, proposing to turn the airport into an "urban oasis" that will reflect the country's "festive atmosphere." In an earlier interview on GMA News TV's "State of the Nation" newscast, NAIA Terminal 1 manager Dante Basanta said it was "unfair" to call NAIA the "worst airport" because its management is working hard to improve the airport's facilities and services. "We cannot compete with other airpots kasi hindi naman masyadong modern ang airport natin. We can only do so much with the old facilities. Binabawi naman natin 'yon sa services natin," Basanta said. In an interview last week, President Benigno Aquino III said a presentation for a makeover plan for NAIA, a stopgap measure for the next four or five years, will be presented to him soon. — RSJ, GMA News