California adds extra protections for neurological data
world1 day ago
The Philippines' Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) is increasing its charges for meet-and-assist services. Now, travellers who wish to get 'VIP treatment' and skip the queues have to pay up to Php140,000 (about Dh9,000), authorities announced on Thursday.
The higher fees and revised VIP protocols — typically granted to celebrities and high-profile passengers — were the latest changes introduced since the privately owned New Naia Infrastructure Corp (NNIC) took over the airport's management.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Naia's meet-and-assist services used to cost only Php800 (Dh51) to Php4,032 (Dh256). With the new protocols, the rates were hiked by as much as 900 per cent, starting at Php8,000 (about Dh500) and reaching Dh140,000 (about Dh9,000), depending on the number of passengers.
NNIC said the decision was taken to "discourage the service's misuse". It argued that with the previous minimal charges, "any passenger could bypass regular airport procedures".
"This not only created potential security vulnerabilities but also led to operational inefficiencies and an unfair advantage for those who could afford to pay," it added.
The new rate of Php8,000 per passenger includes only the guide service departure flights. More expensive services include access passes for coordinators and vehicle passes. These start at Php50,000 for up to nine passengers; Php100,000 for 10 to 20 passengers; and increases to Php140,000 for 21 to 30 passengers.
“Our ultimate goal is to create a seamless and efficient airport experience where the need for VIP treatment ... becomes unnecessary. We want every traveller to enjoy an effortless journey through Naia, regardless of their status,” the airport operator said.
Besides the new rates, NNIC also laid down new guidelines for VIP services.
Non-passengers will no longer be permitted to provide meet-and-greet services or accompany departing VIPs, it said.
Moreover, the service will now be exclusively handled by NNIC’s VIP Assistance Personnel.
kirstin@khaleejtimes.com
ALSO READ:
California adds extra protections for neurological data
world1 day ago
The Congress, projected by exit polls to win in Haryana, had said earlier it would not accept the 'totally unexpected, completely surprising and counter-intuitive' result
world1 day ago
The new submarines will be built at the government's shipbuilding centre in the southern port of Visakhapatnam
world1 day ago
Six years after Brazil legalised online sports betting, Latin America's biggest economy is battling what Finance Minister Haddad has called a 'pandemic'
world1 day ago
She won the prize 'for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life'
world1 day ago
The former Tata Group chairman died at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital. He was 86
world1 day ago
A licensed pilot who would occasionally fly the company plane, Tata never married and was known for his quiet demeanour, relatively modest lifestyle and philanthropic work
world1 day ago
Yoav Gallant described Iran's October 1 missile attack as a failure
world1 day ago