MANILA International Airport Authority general manager Jose Angel Honrado disclosed a P500-million plan to upgrade Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The upgrade will include a facelift, as well as the creation of shuttle service for transit passengers between NAIA’s three international passenger terminals and the old Manila Domestic Airport.

“Shuttle services between passengers terminals are a common sight in many advanced airports in the world,” Honrado said.

The upgrade calls for the phaseout of the present bus shuttles and the introduction of a “jeepney-inspired” Cobus shuttle service.

A Cobus is an infield shuttle bus designed specifically for use at airports.

Honrado also bared plans for an elevated monorail shuttle train similar to the one used at Singapore’s Changi Airport to ease passenger movement on all passenger terminals.

He said improvements on Terminal 1’s facilities are underway after the MIAA board approved last week a P100-million budget for the first phase of the upgrade.

The refurbishing of Terminal 1’s interiors are being done with “pro bono” consultancy support from the country’s elite architects and designers like Budji Layug, Royal Pineda, and Bill Luz.

The first phase of renovation is expected to be finished before the holidays this year.

The second phase, with an outlay of P400 million, will includes exterior face-lifting , multi-level parking connected to the Terminal 1 arrival area, a people’s park, walkalators, wider passenger movement area and other amenities that will serve the needs of passengers and airport users.

original source: Manila Standard Today