The group voiced concern over recent court injunctions that closed two vital gates—one in 2020 and another earlier this year—allegedly based on questionable complaints
Transshipment hub
The first case involved disputed ownership claims over Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) property, while the second stemmed from a local organization citing potential passenger inconvenience. As a result, only a single operator currently has ramp access.
“If this were a horse race, all the gates would be locked except for one. And the bettors, in this case the 37 foreign airlines, have no choice but to sign up with the lone runner,” the Philippine Chamber of Customs Brokers said in an open letter to the President, which was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The brokers emphasized that NAIA’s strategic location could make the gateway a major regional and transshipment hub, but the current setup has created bottlenecks.
Unlock airport's full potential
According to the group, shippers often opt for neighboring countries due to delays, with the sole operator taking up to 12 hours to process a single container. This inefficiency has led to long queues of cargo trucks along Sucat Road, worsening traffic congestion in the area.
The group acknowledged improvements implemented by the New NAIA Infra Corp. to enhance passenger experience but urged similar attention to cargo operations. It highlighted the critical role of seamless cargo logistics in bolstering trade, attracting investments, and driving job creation.
With the holiday season ramping up, the group called for immediate action to ensure smoother cargo flow and unlock NAIA’s full potential as both a passenger and cargo hub.
