Philippines airport terminal rated world's worst airport

Manila’s crowded Terminal 1 was ranked the world’s worst by travellers based on comfort, convenience, cleanliness and customer service.

By (AFP)

Published: Fri 18 Oct 2013, 1:23 PM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 5:30 AM

MANILA — The Philippines’ main Manila airport terminal has been named the world’s worst for the second year in a row in a survey by an online travel website.

Officials on Friday brushed off the survey results, insisting conditions were being improved.

“The Guide to Sleeping in Airports” website said Manila’s crowded Terminal 1 was ranked the world’s worst by travellers based on comfort, convenience, cleanliness and customer service.

Reviews posted on the site mentioned 'dilapidated facilities', dishonest airport workers — particularly taxi drivers — long waiting times and rude officials.

“These are old issues,” Terminal 1 manager Dante Basanta said, adding that the problems were already being addressed by the government.

He conceded that the Manila airport, with a capacity of about 6.5 million passengers annually, was overstretched, handling 8.1 million travellers last year.

Terminal 1, the oldest of its four passenger terminals, was built 32 years ago.

The government has launched a 2.5-billion-peso ($58 million) renovation programme for the terminal.

It is also attempting to decongest it by moving at least three million passengers a year to a newer terminal.