Visitors who are denied entry into the country are “still, first and foremost, airline passengers” who needed to be taken care off.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Eric Jose Ines issued this observation during a meeting with officials of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Airline Operators Council, and the Philippine Airlines to discuss matters about plane passengers barred from entering the Philippines.
During the meeting, Ines reminded the airlines’ responsibility over these passengers, saying it was imperative to take them back to their country of origin as soon as possible after being handed over to them by the Bureau of Immigration
“I call upon our airline operators to do their part of the responsibility over passengers who are denied entry into the country. We must remember that though nadmissible, they are still first and foremost, airline passengers. The responsibility of taking care of them does not end there,” Ines stressed.
The AOC offered to submit to MIAA a proposal on how to address the handling of excluded passengers who inevitably may take time to be flown back to their country of origin.
The issue will be discussed with the Immigration to ensure that no provisions under the Immigration Act will be violated.
For its part, PAL said that it will tentatively house their excluded passengers in their lounge which is still under construction in NAIA Terminal 1.
Meanwhile, passengers of other airlines with existing lounges in Terminals 1 and 3 may be accomm dated inside their lounges.
“The airlines may also use MIAA Passenger Lodging Facilities (PLF) for this purpose but subject to the guidelines of its use as stated in MIAA Memorandum Circular No. 3, series 2019. We provide these facilities primarily for transiting passengers but under our guidelines, excluded passengers are given priority,” Ines explained.
The MIAA has a main lodging facility in Terminal 3 located at the 2nd level with an extension near Gate 116. These rooms have beds, simple storage, toilet and bath, a charging station and a simple dining area equipped with a refrigerator and a water station. Combined, these facilities can accommodate 33 passengers.
In NAIA Terminal 1, a new and improved lodging facility is due to open soon. Same provisions are expected for use by passengers.