Turboprop exit from NAIA postponed

Travelers heading to island destinations can still fly out of main gateway Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after the government pushed back the planned October phaseout of turboprop flights to next year.

- BY DEXTER BARRO II

Based on a document obtained by Manila Bulletin, the Manila Slot Coordination Committee (MSCC) is postponing the Oct. 26 deadline of the planned turboprop transfer by five months to March 2026, coinciding with the start of the summer season.

MSCC, which is composed of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and NAIA operator New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), said the decision to extend the deadline was driven by concerns of industry stakeholders.

Following reassessment of its initial resolution, the committee said it is critical to balance the impact of turboprop transfer to regional airports with the goal of optimizing the capacity of the country's primary gateway.