Regular taxis allowed inside NAIA 2 and 3

MANILA, Philippines – To meet high demand during peak hours, unaccredited white metered taxis are now allowed to pick up passengers at the arrival areas of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 2 and 3.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the move was prompted by passengers’ appeals to have taxis readily available at the arrival bay in the two terminals.

Previously, regular taxis – which are usually cheaper than the airport-accredited “yellow” cabs – may only pick up new riders at the arrival bay if they also brought departing passengers to the airport.

While there are 1,677 airport-accredited taxis and vehicles for rent, the MIAA noted that traffic in the metropolis “hampers such taxis from returning promptly to the airport.”

The regular taxis will only be allowed to enter the terminals during the following peak hours:

Terminal 2

• 2 pm to 6 pm
• 8 pm to 10 pm

Terminal 3

• 9 am to 11 am
• 1 pm to 4 pm
• 6 pm to 8 pm
• 10 pm to 1 am

The new taxi scheme, which began Monday, April 20, aims to shorten long queues for taxis in Terminal 2 and 3.

MIAA noted that in 2014, a daily average of 10,722 passengers arrived in Terminal 2, while 21,293 passengers arrived in Terminal 3.

This was comparatively lower than the daily average of 9,536 passengers arriving in Terminal 1 and 4,949 passengers in Terminal 4.

While regular taxis are now allowed inside the terminals, MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado reminded passengers to exercise caution when riding these unaccredited taxis.

He added that airport-accredited taxis are safer because the MIAA can track down the operators of erring taxis.

The MIAA does not have any control over unaccredited taxis that pick passengers up from their airports while “yellow” taxis are accountable to MIAA. – Rappler.com