Foreign airlines flying in and out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have started remitting to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) the terminal fees they’ve collected from unused plane tickets.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal expressed elation that the example set by local flag carrier Cebu Pacific and its budget subsidiary CebGo had been followed by other airlines.

The terminal fees were included in the price of the tickets pursuant to a controversial memorandum of the MIAA during the Aquino administration.

The said practice which had been condemned by lawmakers had been stopped by the MIAA under the Duterte presidency.

Those who remitted were Singapore Airlines (P4,301,550 for the period of February 2015 to March 2016), Kuwait Airways (P1,942,600 for February 2015 to December 2016) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (P1,081,850 for February 2016 to June 2017).

Also returning the unused terminal fees for safekeeping by MIAA until refunded by ticket-buyers were Ethiopian Airlines (P92,400 for June 2015 and April 2016); Qatar Airways (P1,308,450 for February 2015 to December 2015) and Cathay Pacific (P5,017,650).

Cebu Pacific and CebGo on 05 July 2018 was the first to turn over P245,610,829 for the period 01 February 2015 to 30 April 2018.

As of 13 July 2018, MIAA has collected a total of P259,355,329.

The money will be kept in a special escrow account and can be refunded by passengers either personally or through their representatives.

Refunds may be claimed at the MIAA Administration Building along MIA Road, Pasay City during business hours, Monday to Friday. Bring along the original ticket and a valid government-issued identification card and for proxy refunds an authorization letter from the passenger.

Monreal said MIAA appreciates the gesture of the airlines.