27 abandoned aircraft have been gathering dust on the tarmac of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, Philippines. With some remaining stationary for more than a decade, the airport are beginning a huge clear-up operation.
Out with the Old: Owners are Urged to Remove the Aircraft
The aircraft remaining on the tarmac have now been identified as a safety concern by the New Naia Infra Corp (NNIC). In an effort to improve grounds safety as well as make the most of the airport’s limited space, the NNIC have arranged for a total of 27 aircraft to be removed from the grounds of NAIA.
Some of the aircraft have been left for more than a decade, with a Boeing 737-200 having sat on the North Taxiway Extension since 2015 and a Cessna 421B left unused since 2009.
As the airport receives an increase in air traffic, the removal is of the aircraft is an urgent concern, as the abandoned airplanes have now been identified as a safety risk.
After taking over operations for Manila International Airport in September of 2024, the NNIC have actioned a range of safety protocols in order to optimise space at the airport. Just last year, the organisation set out to remove 20 abandoned cars from the airport’s car parks, clearing room to provide optimal space and efficient airport operations.
Working alongside the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the abandoned aircraft are to be identified, and the owners and relevant bodies contacted and encouraged to retrieve them. If the owners or relevant bodies do not claim the aircraft, the NNIC will proceed with the removal under the guidance of airport regulations and law.
“The continued presence of these aircraft severely limits our operational capacity,” the NNIC states. “Clearing them will allow us to improve airside traffic flow and accommodate increasing passenger and aircraft movements at NAIA”.
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