Filipino carriers call for airport fee waiver

Philippine carriers want to meet with the government’s transport agencies next week to seek an extension of the waiver of airport fees as the aviation industry continues to struggle due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, says the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP).

ACAP chairperson and Philippines AirAsia Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo Isla, told an online media briefing that government-backed loan guarantees were discussed as early as the first economic stimulus package (otherwise referred to as Bayanihan I) signed into law in September 2020, but which expired at the end of June 2021.

“However, what we are now asking for is an extension of the waived airport fees and parking fees. That alone will be a big help to the airline companies,” he added. He noted that some airport tenants were also asking for rent relief, reported Reuters.

Isla said the ACAP would meet next week with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the Manila International Airport Authority. The aviation sector’s recovery had stalled due to the contagious Delta variant.

Local carriers have been forced to stop accepting passengers travelling for leisure purposes until August 20, 2021, after the government ordered stricter quarantine rules in Manila and key hubs around the country due to rising COVID-19 infections, reported The Star newspaper.

Isla said Philippines AirAsia alone had cancelled about 40% of its flights during this period. He explained that the reduction of regulatory fees, alongside efforts to boost cargo revenues, would help the airline weather the loss of crucial passenger traffic.

He also wanted to see more widespread vaccinations against COVID-19. A survey conducted by the airline between July 23 and 28, 2021, showed that 91.4% of the respondents agreed that a fully vaccinated crew gave them the confidence to travel by air. However, of the 1,500 passengers surveyed, only 729 or 45.5% had been vaccinated themselves, of whom only 410 were fully vaccinated or were travelling two weeks after receiving their second dose.