Baggage delays seen at Naia 3 until July

[Lee]

Quote

 

MANILA, Philippines — Since the 20-year-old baggage handling system at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 started experiencing technical issues on Oct. 18, passengers flying out of Manila have complained about arriving at their destinations without their checked-in bags.

One of them was the mother of Mae (not her real name) who boarded a Cebu Pacific flight bound for Kalibo, Aklan, on Oct. 20 for the celebration of her 72nd birthday next month. Although she was traveling by herself, she did not mind as the flight would take just an hour.

However, when she got to her destination, Mae’s mother was distraught when she found out that all her checked-in bags had been left behind at Naia Terminal 3.

“It was causing her a lot of stress as she traveled alone as a senior citizen. How many days will she have to borrow clothes until her luggage is returned?” Mae complained on social media.

Another passenger, Terry, left Naia Terminal 3 on Oct. 21 for a four-day convention in Cebu City. But she learned upon landing at Mactan International Airport that her luggage containing her formal clothes, which included a Filipiniana dress and shoes for the event, were still in Manila.

Fortunately, her bags arrived later in the day even as her colleagues were already pitching in by lending her clothes and shoes to wear to the convention.

Problem to persist

More complaints, however, seem to be in store as the new private management of Naia warned the situation may persist in the coming months—especially during the expected surge in travelers for the Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 break, and the holiday season.

When the San Miguel Corp. (SMC)-led New Naia Infra Corp. (NNIC) took over the operations and maintenance of the airport last month, it said that upgrading the baggage handling system would be a priority.

In a report by InsiderPH, SMC chair and CEO Ramon Ang said that only one of the five installed baggage handling and explosive detection systems was operational at Terminal 3, the largest among the four Naia terminals.

Temporary solution

The NNIC ordered a new system in July—two months before it took over Naia operations from the government—to address the issue. But Ang noted that the problem with baggage handling might persist until July 2025, as it would take a whole year to install the new system.

To improve the situation in the meantime, the NNIC has hired extra personnel to manually sort the checked-in bags of departing passengers.

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, which operates at Naia Terminal 3, said in an advisory on Wednesday noon that to date, it has “recovered 80 percent of left-behind bags, and checked bags are now being processed as usual.”

It did not provide an update on how many bags were affected although as of Tuesday, it said it was dealing with 821 pieces of luggage that had to be forwarded to their respective owners.

The airline company said that it was working with NNIC “to normalize the situation [at] the soonest time possible by increasing manpower and refining manual processes to improve the flow of baggage from check-in to loading.”

It has also set up a dedicated team to manage the situation, it added, with domestic passengers given the choice of having their bags delivered to their destination, or picking them up at the airport. For international flights, a similar option was available along with delivery services for those with onward destinations.

Baggage delays seen at Naia 3 until July

 

 

[OnMyWay]

They should just charge more for the baggage.  You know, like the parking.  I just booked baggage Cebu Pacific Clark-Bangkok.  20 kg p1100 each way = p2200.  If they raised that 400%, that would be 4400 each way = 8800 RT.  Checked bags would immediately drop a lot and solve the problem.  No more backlog.

Carry on might be an issue.  Then they could start charging for carryon.  p2000 per one 7 kg carryon sounds about right.

Perfect logic, right? 

[baronapart]

1 hour ago, OnMyWay said:

They should just charge more for the baggage.  You know, like the parking.  I just booked baggage Cebu Pacific Clark-Bangkok.  20 kg p1100 each way = p2200.  If they raised that 400%, that would be 4400 each way = 8800 RT.  Checked bags would immediately drop a lot and solve the problem.  No more backlog.

Carry on might be an issue.  Then they could start charging for carryon.  p2000 per one 7 kg carryon sounds about right.

Perfect logic, right? 

You are like a dog with a bone...

[OnMyWay]

2 hours ago, baronapart said:

You are like a dog with a bone...

At least when I have a bone, I stop barking!

[Ram1957]

https://www.cebupacificair.com/en-PH/pages/travel-advisories/2024/Baggage-Handling-System-at-NAIA-Terminal-3

Cebu Pacific Advisory #5 
Restoration of Normal Baggage Handling at NAIA Terminal 3 
October 23, 2024; 7:00PM

Cebu Pacific is pleased to announce that normal baggage handling operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 have been restored. We want to assure all passengers that checked baggage for new travel is now being processed as usual.

For those impacted by delays in recent days, we are happy to report that 90% of the previously left-behind bags have been recovered. Our teams remain focused on swiftly delivering any remaining delayed luggage to affected passengers.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) for their crucial collaboration in resolving the issue. Their dedicated efforts played a key role in restoring operations.

Looking ahead, Cebu Pacific is optimistic about NNIC’s ongoing commitment to enhancing airport infrastructure and making further improvements. We believe these initiatives will significantly enhance the travel experience, ensuring smoother and more comfortable journeys for all passengers.

Most importantly, we deeply appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our passengers throughout this period. Cebu Pacific remains fully committed to delivering a seamless and meaningful travel experience for everyone. 

[scott h]

1 hour ago, Ram1957 said:

enhancing airport infrastructure and making further improvements.

Putting conglomerate greed aside for a moment, one of the advantages of having a private firm take over NAIA management is that they no longer have to abide by the frustrating government bidding process. We have all seen this before, where a bid is awarded then challenged by a losing bidder and is tied up in court forever. 

An example is the baggage system, which seems to have been 21 years old. It seems that replacement is seen as an investment to a private business and not subject to and may be directly (and quickly) purchased.

Definitely a different vibe | Philstar.com

In the past, when things went wrong at any of the NAIA terminals, bad news and criticisms traveled as fasts as ripples on the water. But last Oct. 20, when the BHS or baggage handling system at NAIA Terminal 3 malfunctioned as feared, the ripples of negativity and criticism did not turn into a public relations disaster.

Instead, we read and saw what cooperation amongst private sector professionals can achieve. Almost immediately, both the NNIC (New NAIA Infra Corp) and Cebu Pacific issued statements recognizing the problem, stated that they were cooperating and laid down options and solutions for affected passengers as well as ongoing actions already taken to fully resolve or fix the problem of the BHS.

Cebu Pacific immediately offered to deliver left behind baggage to final destinations or arrange airport pick-up of baggage for some 400 passengers. The NNIC, upon instructions of SMC CEO Ramon Ang, immediately fielded added personnel to compliment those on the ground alongside Cebu Pacific.

RSA also made it known that the NNIC had actually ordered a new baggage handling system as early as July 2024 because installation and start-up of such a system takes one whole year. In the meantime, we can all say a prayer that nothing serious happens because word is, four out of five BHS in the NAIA complex were overdue for heavy maintenance before NNIC took over.

The BHS that conked out last Oct. 20 is reportedly 21 years old, was programmed to be replaced in 2020, but was not. The BHS maintenance is not a simple machinery or conveyor. The BHS is coupled with online x-ray aswell as EDS or explosive detection system.

Aside from the BHS’s, NNIC has also invested in the repair/replacement of six to 10 air bridges that have been out of commission or non-functioning prior to the NNIC takeover. That does not even include many non-functioning or phased out x-ray machines with no available parts that have been put in storage or bodegas.

But the good news is, procurement and replacement of equipment that cost hundreds of millions does not take five years in the private sector. The cost is considered an investment, a necessity and certainly not subject to corruption

[Ram1957]

NNIC is actually trying to fix all the poor management decisions that the Government has made with NAIA throughout the years. When it comes to preventive maintenance we all know that is a not a option when it comes to running a major airport. NNIC is going to have to change the mindset of the maintenance personnel at NAIA, otherwise these problems will return.

[scott h]

6 minutes ago, Ram1957 said:

change the mindset of the maintenance personnel at NAIA,

Spot on Ram. A great advantage of a private operator.........."Fix it or your fired!" vs. a government org. "Fix it or you will be.........reassigned!" 

Just look at all the PNP guys who are "Sacked" just to turn up on a different island 

[OnMyWay]

2 hours ago, scott h said:

The BHS that conked out last Oct. 20 is reportedly 21 years old,

I thought terminal 3 was opened after I moved here in 2012, so I looked it up.  Kinda sorta.

https://mnlairport.ph/about/naia-terminal-3

Terminal 3 is the newest and largest terminal in Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The terminal handles both domestic and international flights.

Originally designed to accommodate 13 million passengers annually, Terminal 3 managed nearly 23 million passengers in 2023, significantly exceeding its intended capacity. While the international wing continues to operate efficiently, the domestic wing experiences crowding due to the high volume of passengers.

Terminal 3 serves as the hub for Cebu Pacific, where it operates all its domestic flights (except those under its subsidiary CebGo) and international flights. Cebu Pacific is the only airline conducting domestic flights from Terminal 3. Additionally, several foreign airlines utilize this terminal for their international operations.

The opening of Terminal 3 faced numerous delays due to various disputes and controversies. Initially planned to open in 2002, the terminal partially opened to the public in 2008 and became fully operational in 2014.

[OnMyWay]

4 hours ago, scott h said:

one of the advantages of having a private firm take over NAIA management is that they no longer have to abide by the frustrating government bidding process. We have all seen this before, where a bid is awarded then challenged by a losing bidder and is tied up in court forever.

Agree that a private company will be much better than a gov for almost everything.  In all countries, 99% of the time.  In Philippines, maybe 95%.  They still make blunders, like raising long term parking rates 400% and shutting out all the long term parkers, resulting in empty lots.  

4 hours ago, Ram1957 said:

NNIC is actually trying to fix all the poor management decisions that the Government has made with NAIA throughout the years. When it comes to preventive maintenance we all know that is a not a option when it comes to running a major airport. NNIC is going to have to change the mindset of the maintenance personnel at NAIA, otherwise these problems will return.

I'm wondering if they will bring in new personnel.  Systems like this require dedicated and smart mechanics for ongoing maintenance, with timely support from management and engineers.   Maintenance is part of the design, not an afterthought.  It is likely that the maintenance sucked.  Maybe the design too?

I worked for a company that has hundreds of sortation systems.  Siemens designed and built a lot of the big ones, and they are good.  I helped with a few of the designs by providing volume projections.  Siemens probably could tell you when a slide, or a kickplate, or a motor, would need to be replaced, with high accuracy.  Thus you budget for it, have spare parts ready, inspect daily, and have mechanics standing by at all active hours.  A breakdown of more than a few minutes can cost millions in that business.

A buddy of mine is still working as a sortation engineer.  I have been wondering when he will retire because I think he is over 65.