DOTr boasts of PH airports’ ‘punctuality’ in global poll – but poll says otherwise

Rambo Talabong

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DOTr boasts of PH airports’ ‘punctuality’ in global poll – but poll says otherwise
The 8 Philippine airports the DOTr bragged of getting a rating for punctuality are actually among the bottom 35 of almost 500 major airports worldwide

Not all starred ratings point to a stellar performance.

On Friday, November 19, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) proudly released the results of the latest Official Aviation Guide (OAG) rankings of airports’ punctuality worldwide. 

“GOOD NEWS: 8 PH airports awarded with On-Time Performance Star Ratings,” the DOTr boasted through a press statement mailed to the media and posted on their Facebook page.

The Transportation Department failed to include, however, that all the Philippine airports listed garnered only one-star ratings, which means they were among the least punctual in the world.

In their press release, they only attached the list of one-star airports, omitting hundreds of others with higher ratings (2 stars to 5 stars).

Therefore, the government said Iloilo International Airport was “ranked 14th place” – when in fact, it was ranked 455th.

Out of 489 airports ranked, the 8 Philippine airports are in the bottom 35:

  • Iloilo International Airport
  • Ninoy Aquino International Airport
  • Bacolod-Silay Airport
  • Davao International Airport
  • Tacloban Airport
  • Laguindingan International Airport
  • Kalibo International Airport
  • Puerto Princesa International Airport

Below the rankings, the OAG explains their rating system: “The Star Ratings range from one to five stars. Airlines and airports with the best on-time performance, for example, the top 10%, receive five stars. The awards are then distributed, across all airlines with the poorest performers receiving one star.”

Reached for comment, the DOTr, in a statement, pointed to a silver lining.

They said that 2017 is the first year that Philippine airports made it to the list. To be included, airports must have a minimum of 600 operations a month (minimum of 2.5 million departed seats), and OAG must receive flight status information of at least 80% of scheduled flights within a year. (READ: NAIA no longer among ‘worst airports’ – survey)

“[We are] hoping by next year we will reach category 2 [stars] as our airports are now being improved by DOTr both operations, service, and infrastructures,” their statement read.

Communications officer Goddess Libiran also told Rappler in a text message that they are reminded by a rallying call by their Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“We know that there’s a lot to do. We will not rest until we become one of the better airports, and soon, best,” she said. – Rappler.com

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Rambo Talabong

Rambo Talabong covers the House of Representatives and local governments for Rappler. Prior to this, he covered security and crime. He was named Jaime V. Ongpin Fellow in 2019 for his reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. In 2021, he was selected as a journalism fellow by the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics.