CAAP sees 10% spike in air passenger traffic this holiday season

CAAP has coordinated with airlines on the efficient processing of passengers especially at check-in counters.(Wikimedia commons, Public Domain)

MANILA— The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has estimated a 10 percent increase in the number of passengers in airports nationwide during the Christmas season.

This, as the national aviation authority launched “CAAP Balik Pasko 2017” to ensure safe and efficient operations of its 35 airports currently engaged in commercial operations from December 1, 2017 up to January 5, 2018.

“Airports under the aviation regulator are prepared for the influx of passengers eager to return to the provinces to celebrate the holidays in their respective hometowns,” CAAP Director General Captain Jim Sydiongco said in a statement.

CAAP has coordinated with airlines on the efficient processing of passengers especially at check-in counters.

Additional airline personnel have been scheduled for additional duty to handle the increase in the number of travelers.

Concerned government agencies operating at the airports including the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) and the PNP Aviation Security Group will deploy sufficient personnel at their areas of concern to ensure smooth passenger flow while all leaves for operations personnel are cancelled to augment airport service staff.

Passenger movement has reached 18.3 million passengers in 2016 based on data from the CAAP.