Filipino Politician Urges Halt to Turboprop Shift
A prominent Filipino lawmaker is urging the president and transport minister to intervene in the planned relocation of turboprop flights from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Angeles City Clark International Airport, warning that the move could significantly damage domestic tourism. National Unity Party member Luis Ray Villafuerte claims the decision made by the Manila Slot Coordination Committee (MSCC) to shift all turboprop operations to Clark by the end of 2026 could deter tourist traffic from smaller airports.
Villafuerte argues that passengers arriving at Manila Ninoy Aquino, one of the country’s busiest hubs, would be reluctant to endure the 90-minute drive to Clark to catch a regional connecting flight. “Arriving passengers who want to travel beyond Manila would naturally choose airports serviced by jet aircraft,” he said, noting that airlines operating jets from Ninoy Aquino offer a more convenient and attractive travel option. According to Villafuerte, smaller airports with runways that cannot accommodate jets would consequently miss out on valuable traffic, further hurting domestic tourism.
He stressed that instead of enforcing the MSCC order to relocate all turboprop operations, the government should pause the decision until a long-planned upgrade of airport infrastructure is completed. “It is our hope that this MSCC decision on the gradual transfer of all turboprop operations from Ninoy Aquino to Clark will be put on the back burner until such time that the Department of Transport can carry out the long-planned expansion of the runways at Naga and other secondary airfields nationwide so they can accommodate bigger aircraft like A320s in place of the would-be banned turboprops,” Villafuerte said. He added that these necessary upgrades must be implemented as soon as possible to ensure that secondary airfields have the capacity to handle larger aircraft.
Representing the Camarines Sur province in the Bicol region, Villafuerte expressed deep concerns over the future of tourism in his region, which is a major revenue earner. Currently, Naga Airport, the largest airport in his province, operates with a single 1,402-metre runway and is serviced by Cebgo operating twice-daily ATR72 flights to Manila Ninoy Aquino. However, those turboprop flights are expected to be transferred to Clark under the new mandate.
Mike Szucs, the CEO of Cebu Pacific Air—operator of Cebgo—revealed that his company will shift all turboprop flights to Clark by the end of October 2025 in accordance with the MSCC mandate. Although Szucs stated he would prefer not to transfer these flights, he acknowledged that the current limitations at Ninoy Aquino force the move as the airport tries to maximize the use of its constrained asset. He also noted that the Department of Transport is actively working on runway upgrades at smaller airports, a process that will take several years. Szucs believes that as these upgrades progress and secondary airports can eventually handle larger aircraft like the A320 or B737, the interim issue of the lengthy drive from Ninoy Aquino to Clark will be resolved, allowing for the return of jet services from the nation’s busiest airport.
Both Villafuerte and Szucs emphasize that enhancing airport infrastructure is critical to ensuring that regional air services remain efficient and competitive, ultimately safeguarding domestic tourism and promoting greater connectivity throughout the Philippines.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com