From 5th worst, NAIA-1 now world’s worst airport

Posted at 10/18/2011 3:31 PM | Updated as of 10/19/2011 9:51 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 has fallen into disrepute and is now ranked the world’s worst airport due to poor facilities, bribery and security concerns, according to an interactive website.  

The Guide to Sleeping in Airports (http://www.sleepinginairports.net) said NAIA Terminal 1, which was ranked the 5th worst airport in the world and the worst in Asia last year, is in bad shape compared to the much newer NAIA Terminal 3. It noted that a portion of the ceiling of the NAIA Terminal 1 caved in last May.

“Bribery and theft exists. Airport taxes are collected, but the money does not seem to go towards the betterment of the airport. Document holders have been told their papers are not correct, but a fee of x amount should clear up the matter,” the website noted.

The website said airport officials promised to clean up NAIA-1 toilets and provide running water and soap after a spot of bad press. It said the terminals are lacking services such as left luggage and pay-in lounges for transit passengers.

“Forget about sleeping in this airport! You will not want to even close your eyes here!” the website noted.

However, it said a big plus for the 30-year-old terminal is the free WiFi in the "passenger movement" areas.

Based on poll votes, user reviews

The website said it ranks the world's least favorite airports based on poll votes and user reviews for reasons such as safety concerns, lack of comfortable seating, rude staff, hostile security, poor facilities, few services to pass the time, bribery and being kicked out or other hassles of being in the airport.

The NAIA Terminal 1 was completed in 1981 and had a size of 67,000 square meters with a design capacity of 4.5 million passengers per year. It was originally named the Manila International Airport and then renamed after the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. in 1987.

The terminal has been a frequent target of criticism with travelers who say it is congested and filthy.

The NAIA-1 was ranked lower than some airports such as the Paris Beauvais, Reykjavik Keflavik, Frankfurt Hahn, London Lutton and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  

Not-so-pleasant experiences

Several reviews on the website gave their not-so-pleasant experiences in the Philippines’ first international airport.

User Monette said she lost her cellphone between the drop-off at the entrance and the security check after someone slashed the side pocket of her handbag with a sharp knife.

“I mentioned it to the PNP officer and he referred me to an airport policeman. This guy had the guts to suggest that I go to the lost and found office and check if they found it. Long story short, he didn't even get my name and address to file a report and was just saying: ma'am there are many thieves in this airport. Just look after your belongings!" the review said.

Another reviewer, livingabroad, commented that he had seen airport workers trying to pocket trinkets and phones from bags while not allowing passengers near their belongings.

The same reviewer also noted that a concession stand at the gates was selling bottles of water that had already been opened and reused with broken seals “and they pretended to break the seal on the bottles when selling.”

User shizumasa said he had travelled to many airports and stayed overnight in some of them, “but nothing compares to the experience at NAIA. In short, it’s a horrible waste of time and you should all hold on to your wallets as tightly as possible.”

“I especially advise any foreign travellers to avoid this airport, the amount of corruption and bribery is just mind blowing.”


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19 comments

naia

Ibinabagay lang ang kondisyon ng NAIA sa pinagkunan ng pangalan nito.


NAIA

Well, that sounds good. We up the ante this time of being the worst! What ninoy has to do is to fire those people who could easily come in contact with the arriving tourist to minimize the chance of them getting rob by this not-to-be-trusted-employees. Sort of changing the guard at the buckingham palace. Then, change the uniformed personnel too for good measure.

Just a thought.

Quality Standards Should Rise

Forget about the survey comments. Forget about whether the survey is fair or not. Your quality standards should rise everyday you report for work as General Manager. It's true...I have been to Tokyo, Bangkok, Brunei, Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar...and one can sleep (even on the floors) of their airports. In NAIA? God help you even if you close your eyes for a second. And the smell? it stinks! And everywhere you go, it's "all seats taken." In his career as GM of an international airport, how many airports have you visited in other countries? Have you taken notes during those visits on what can also be applied at NAIA? Have you checked the internet where there could be websites on airports and updated airport facilities? Does your office have any reading materials on quality standards for airports and airport facilities?

...Or does the GM just simply rely on his own home, kitchen and toilet for quality standards?


OCCUPY NAIA

For the foreigners, the problems are the facilities. For the Filipinos, the real problems are not the facilities in the NAIA but the way the Filipinos are treated by the IMMIGRATION and the stupid policies of POEA that are supposed to be implemented by the IMMIGRATION. The Pnoy government never listened to the complaints of OFWs but are scrambling with panic when foreigners complain. We can now see the priorities of the Philippine government. Its not NAIA 1 that should change. it is the government policies and priorities for its people that should change.


Clean Up NAIA

Talaga naman worst yang NAIA na yan, parang mga patay gutom karamihan ng mga nagtatrabaho kakaharbat lalo sa mga OFW...mas nakakatakot magbakasyo sa Pinas pag OFW ka kasi baka yang mga opisyal dyan sa counter ang maging dahilan para di ka makaalis kahit okay naman papeles mo..gayundin yung mga nagvi-visit visa dito sa dubai..parang marunong pa sa gobyerno ng dubai kung mag-impose ng patakaran para makapunta sa dubai. More than the facility..ang nakakainis ay yung tao dyan sa airport natin. Hoy mahiya kayo yung pinakakain nyo sa pamilya nyo galing sa panghuhuthot sa mga inosenteng tao na gusto lang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa!


Palitan lahat ng opisyal sa NAIA-1 !

Alam naman natin na ang mga nauupo sa puwesto sa gubyerno ay kadalasan walang qualification. Naupo lang sila dahil may kakilala sila sa mga iba pang mataas na opisyal. Ganyan ang sitwasyon sa NAIA-1. Ang mga opisyal doon ay walang alam sa pag-mamaneho ng isang airport. Dagdagan mo pa ng korupsyon ay talagang pinaka-worst talaga itong airport na ito. Ang solusyon talaga diyan ay palitan lahat ng opisyal dito ng mga professional managers at hindi political appointees. Kahit maliit ang airport at luma na ay nakaka-enganyo pa rin puntahan.


Just fix it

You know, no need to cry unfair. IT IS A FAIR ASSSESSMENT. It has nothing to do with modernity. The complaints have something to do with basic service and corrupt immigration and customs officer. Ayusin niyo na lang yan imbes na umangal pa kayo diyan.

Di naman kailangan magara ang airport, basta ang serbisyo at facilidad ay nasasaangayon sa pangangailangan ng isang makabagong paliparan.

Isang example lang...yung monitor ng bag carousel sa NAIA II inabot ng more than 6 months bago ayusin. Tama ba iyan?

Yung kubeta, sira ang gripo, inaabot ng buwan bago ayusin, tama ba yan?

Kung mahaba ang pila sa immigration counters at may mga walang tao sa cubicle ng immigration at nakikita mo na nakatambay ang mga immigration officers dahil sa di pa nila shift, tama ba yan?

Yan ang ibig sabihin ng matinong serbisyo. Panay hakot ninyo ng 750 pesos sa bawat pasahero pero anong improvement ang nakita, WALA.

Yun lang

Yan ang ibig sabihin ng tamang serbisyo.


Just fix it

You know, no need to cry unfair. IT IS A FAIR ASSSESSMENT. It has nothing to do with modernity. The complaints have something to do with basic service and corrupt immigration and customs officer. Ayusin niyo na lang yan imbes na umangal pa kayo diyan.

Di naman kailangan magara ang airport, basta ang serbisyo at facilidad ay nasasaangayon sa pangangailangan ng isang makabagong paliparan.

Isang example lang...yung monitor ng bag carousel sa NAIA II inabot ng more than 6 months bago ayusin. Tama ba iyan?

Yung kubeta, sira ang gripo, inaabot ng buwan bago ayusin, tama ba yan?

Kung mahaba ang pila sa immigration counters at may mga walang tao sa cubicle ng immigration at nakikita mo na nakatambay ang mga immigration officers dahil sa di pa nila shift, tama ba yan?

Yan ang ibig sabihin ng matinong serbisyo. Panay hakot ninyo ng 750 pesos sa bawat pasahero pero anong improvement ang nakita, WALA.

Yun lang

Yan ang ibig sabihin ng tamang serbisyo.


isa ako sa nahingan ng pera sa airport

1

papunta ako ng Dubai nun ng ayaw nilang tatakan ang passport ko, sabi nila malabo raw ang copy ng visa ko, nakiusap ako na if possible na macontact ko ang nag-issue ng visa ko at i-send sa kanila trough fax, sabi nila matatagalan raw ito at ma-miss ko ang flight ko, pag nagpa-rebook daw ako ay may babayaran ako na fee kaya instead na ibayad ko raw sa fee, ibayad ko na lang raw sa kanila $100.00 nung binayran ko na ito ay agad akong tinatakan at pinapasok, marami kami noon sa flight namin na hiningan rin halos sampo po kme.

Isa ako sa nakasaksi sa maduming palakaran sa airport natin. Nakakahiya at nakaka-awa tayo.


The problems with this

The problems with this airport and the people working in it have been going on for decades now. It is time for this government to put together a plan for a comprehensive change. THIS NEEDS A PERSONAL ATTENTION OF PRESIDENT AQUINO NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS THE PREMIER AIRPORT OF THE COUNTRY BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT BEARS THE NAME OF HIS FATHER. If the president can’t even fix an airport, which is pretty basic in most countries in the world, how can he even hope to fix this country?



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