The Manila International Airport Authority expressed confidence in the ability of airlines to maintain their current on-time performance throughout the 2023 Undas season.

According to the MIAA, the airline's OTP rating improved further in October after reaching a peak of 80 percent in September, matching the high mark set in March of the same year.

The majority of the 13,519 flights that operated at NAIA during the first 18 days of the month had an average on-time performance of 82.38 percent, which is well within international norms and indicates that a considerable majority of aircraft left and arrived within 15 minutes of the planned time.

With daily counts ranging between 109,000 and 123,000 from 1 October to 18 October, MIAA was able to accommodate 2,076,062 passengers at NAIA Terminals.

MIAA officer in charge Bryan Co remains positive that the rising trend in OTP will be sustained during the peak season. This confidence is backed by successful operations during "OPLAN Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2023" in April, which managed 1,179,398 passengers traveling through the nation's premier gateway over a 10-day period.

Co said that this year's Holy Week peak saw 7,408 flights, an excellent average OTP of 84.76 percent, and 741 flights per day, increasing operational efficiency at NAIA during this busy time and enhancing the overall passenger experience at the airport.

The airport acting chief said that with the commitment of the airlines and industry partners, they aim to maintain the airlines' strong OTP record from the Lenten rush this year.

Co added that their objective is to minimize crowding in passenger and aircraft movement areas through the timely dispatch of flights. They're striving to establish this as a norm at NAIA. Thanks to their partnerships with airlines and government agencies, passengers are starting to notice a positive shift in NAIA operations.

He further noted that airlines have created backup plans to prevent sacrificing passenger comfort. For example, Cebu Pacific, which has the most regional destinations, has increased the number of reserve planes to lessen the effects of any flight disruptions brought on by unforeseen events. In order to provide for its guests during any delays or disruptions to flights, they have also partnered with food vendors in Terminal 3.