NAIA operator hauling off junk, abandoned airplanes

The private operator of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) announced on Saturday that it has begun the process of clearing 27 abandoned aircraft located in the general aviation area of facility.

The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said the decluttering is part of efforts to improve safety, expedite airside operations and better utilize limited space at the airport.

The NNIC said that despite earlier efforts to address the problem, several of the aircraft have been dormant for years.

For instance, a Boeing 737-200 occupying 865.52 square meters at the North Taxiway Extension has not been used since 2015, while a Cessna 421B has been stored at NAIA since 2009.

Their continuous presence poses risks to safety and security and restricts operational capacity, it said. As traffic at NAIA continues to increase, clearing these aircraft will free up space that is essential for improving ground mobility and aircraft parking, NNIC added.

Since assuming control of airport operations in September 2024, NNIC has been working closely with stakeholders to upgrade facilities and resolve long-standing limitations.

In cooperation with the Manila International Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, NNIC identified the abandoned aircraft and formally notified the owners or authorized representatives of each aircraft.

The owners are being urged by NNIC to contact airport management as soon as possible to confirm ownership and facilitate retrieval or appropriate disposal.

In compliance with relevant rules and regulations, NNIC said it will proceed with removal and disposal if no action is taken.