Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Ines called on the airlines to ensure the welfare of passengers who were denied, in discussions with the Airline Operators Council (AOC) and Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Ines met with the AOC and PAL after several excluded passengers were reportedly forced to sleep on cardboards at the airport’s floors. He reminded that airlines should bring back passengers to the country of origin once they have been transferred from the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
“I call upon our airline operators to do their part of the responsibility over passengers who are denied entry into the country. We must remember that though inadmissible, they are still first and foremost, airline passengers. The responsibility of taking care of them does not end there,” Ines said during the meeting.
The AOC has proposed a plan to MIAA regarding how to manage excluded passengers who may require extra time to be repatriated. This plan will be reviewed with the Bureau of Immigration to ensure compliance with the Immigration Act.
On the other hand, Philippine Airlines (PAL) said that they will house their excluded passengers in their lounge which is still under construction in NAIA Terminal 1.
Passengers of other airlines with existing lounges in Terminals 1 and 3 may be accommodated inside their lounges.
Ines said: “The airlines may also use MIAA Passenger Lodging Facilities (PLF) for this purpose but subject to the guidelines of its use as stated in MIAA Memorandum Circular No. 3, series 2019. We provide these facilities primarily for transiting passengers but under our guidelines, excluded passengers are given priority.”
“MIAA has a main lodging facility in Terminal 3 located at the second level with an extension near Gate 116. These rooms have beds, simple storage, toilet and bath, a charging station and a simple dining area equipped with a refrigerator and a water station. Combined, these facilities can accommodate 33 passengers,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BI said that the bureau oversees immigration process and enforces laws, but airport management authorities are responsible for providing necessary facilities like the exclusion room.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said: “The same necessitates that the excluded passenger be boarded to the next available flight back to the country of origin. The responsibility to ensure strict adherence to these requirements lies with airline operators.”
Sandoval said the ultimate responsibility for facilitating the departure of excluded passengers lies with airline operators, with airport management authorities providing necessary facilities and logistical support for it.
