QUEZON CITY, (PIA) –The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) expressed satisfaction over the turnout of the second phase of implementation of the Schedule and Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR) program.

Under the program, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, China Southern Airlines, Scoot, and Starlux Airlines were successfully relocated to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Sunday, April 16.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights to and from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh likewise transferred smoothly to Terminal 1 on the same day.

MIAA recorded a total of 3,311 passengers boarding the 22 flights affected by the new terminal assignments.

“We are satisfied with how well these carriers transitioned. This is a result of our months of coordination with the airlines and ground handlers,” MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said noting that only 2% of passengers were misrouted—28 in Terminal 1 and 43 in Terminal 2—while none were offloaded as a result of the terminal reassignment.

In anticipation of some passengers finding themselves in the wrong Terminal, MIAA deployed free shuttles in Terminals 1 and 2.

The ground handlers on the other hand ensured presence of their personnel at the departure gates to assist passengers with their needs.

“Terminal changes occur for airlines all over the world, depending on the airport at which they operate. It's all for the betterment of the system as a whole. Their passengers are our passengers. These passengers are our customers. Of course, we want to support the airlines,” Chiong said.

“With the STAR program, our on-time performance will improve further, passengers will have a better airport experience and everyone will benefit,” Chiong added.

On June 1, Jeju Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Thai Airways and Gulf Air will transfer to its new home in NAIA Terminal 3 while Philippine Airlines will begin operating all their international flights in Terminal 1 come June 16.

For the third phase of the STAR program, all domestic flights of Philippines AirAsia and Royal Air Philippines will be operated from NAIA Terminal 2 starting July 1.

This well-planned undertaking aims to optimize the capacity of the four NAIA terminals, with NAIA Terminal 2 becoming a purely domestic terminal, consistent with its intended design when it was built in the late 1990s.

The plan to use NAIA Terminal 2 for all domestic flights of Philippine Airlines, Philippines Air Asia, and Royal Air will come to fruition on July 1.

While MIAA works on further expanding the capacity of NAIA Terminal 2, the domestic operations of Cebu Pacific will remain in NAIA Terminals 3 and 4 for the meantime. (miaa/pia-ncr)