(Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB)
MANILA – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has backed the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) appeal to restore turboprop flights at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), citing rising travel costs and the impact of flight restrictions on local tourism.
In a statement Wednesday, Zubiri said transferring turboprop operations to Clark International Airport and other regional hubs has made domestic destinations such as Siargao, Coron and El Nido more expensive and difficult to reach.
“We are killing domestic travel. Ever since turboprops were transferred from NAIA to Clark, domestic flights have become more expensive and become more logistically inaccessible for many people,” Zubiri said.
The senator’s appeal followed concerns raised by Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay, who said the relocation of turboprop flights has discouraged domestic travel due to additional transportation expenses and longer travel times.
Angara-Mathay earlier disclosed that the DOT was coordinating with aviation authorities to explore the return of turboprop operations to NAIA, particularly while rail connectivity between Metro Manila and Clark remains incomplete.
“It’s hard to travel to Clark until the train is finished,” she said.
The tourism chief also discussed the proposal with Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, who reportedly expressed openness to negotiating limited turboprop slots at NAIA.
However, any changes to the restriction would require approval from the Manila Slot Coordination Committee, which oversees airport slot allocations.
The restriction, fully implemented on March 29, 2026, was introduced to ease congestion at NAIA by freeing up takeoff and landing slots for larger aircraft.
Zubiri argued that the policy has placed additional financial and logistical burdens on travelers, particularly those who must spend two to three hours traveling from Metro Manila to Clark before boarding domestic flights.
He warned that higher domestic travel expenses could push more Filipinos to choose international destinations instead of visiting local tourist spots.
“Mas pinipili pa ng mga kababayan natin na magbakasyon sa Vietnam o sa Taiwan, kasi mas mura pa ang flights doon kesa sa sarili nating mga probinsya,” he said.
While acknowledging Clark’s importance as an alternative aviation gateway, Zubiri maintained that allowing limited turboprop operations at NAIA could help improve domestic connectivity without abandoning efforts to decongest the airport.
He urged Dizon and the Manila Slot Coordination Committee to review the policy and consider an arrangement that would accommodate smaller aircraft while maintaining airport efficiency.
Zubiri emphasized that affordable and accessible domestic flights are essential to tourism-dependent communities, particularly hotels, resorts, restaurants, transport operators and small businesses.
He said improving air connectivity would help sustain local livelihoods and make Philippine destinations more accessible to domestic and foreign tourists.
