MIAA to Passengers: Be at Airport 2-3 Hours Before Flight

Image Caption: A couple embraces at the NAIA departure area. ABS-CBN News

MANILA – A suggestion for airline passengers to be at the airport 5 hours before departure will only worsen the long lines at immigration counters, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Thursday.

Philippine Airlines had urged travelers to come early in anticipation of long queues caused by a shortage of Immigration officers who are protesting the alleged non-payment of overtime work.

But passengers who arrive too early before their flight will only crowd the airport since check-in counters only open 2 hours before departure, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said.

“Kung ire-require po natin ang mga pasahero na 5 oras, nasa paliparan na, that will result to a congestion sa terminal. Lalo pong dadami ang pasahero natin sa terminal,” Monreal said in a phone interview with radio DZMM.

(If we will require passengers to be at the airport 5 hours before their flight, that will result to a congestion of the terminal.)

Passengers of international flights are urged to arrive 3 hours before departure while passengers of domestic flights should arrive 2 hours before, Monreal said.

Monreal said MIAA has offered to augment the Immigration’s workforce.

(Source: ABS-CBN.com)