Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri urged the Department of Transportation on Wednesday, November 11, to lift the ban on turboprop aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), arguing that the restriction makes domestic travel costly, inconvenient, and inaccessible.
The statement follows Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay’s appeal to reconsider the policy, which was fully implemented on March 29, 2026, to decongest NAIA by prioritizing larger aircraft. The restriction rerouted flights to island destinations such as Siargao, Coron, and El Nido through regional hubs like Clark International Airport.
“We are killing domestic travel. Ever since turboprops were transferred from NAIA to Clark, domestic flights have become more expensive and become more logistically inaccessible for many people,” Zubiri warned.
Impact on Travelers and Tourism
Zubiri noted that passengers traveling from Metro Manila face a two- to three-hour journey to Clark depending on traffic, alongside extra transportation costs before boarding their flights.
He emphasized that these financial and logistical hurdles hurt families and local tourism communities.
“Secretary Angara-Mathay is absolutely correct, we need to allow turboprops back at NAIA. People spend twice the amount when they need to go to Clark just to reach Siargao, Camiguin or Coron. And not a lot of people are willing or able to do that, as we can see from our stagnating tourism industry,” he stressed.
The senator added that high domestic travel costs drive travelers toward international budget destinations like Vietnam or Taiwan instead of local provinces.
“Most of our people are choosing to go on vacation in Vietnam or Taiwan because the flights are more affordable compared to just going to our provinces,” he lamented.
Call for Policy Review
While supporting the development of Clark International Airport, Zubiri maintained that completely banning turboprops from NAIA was premature, especially while railway connectivity between Manila and Clark remains incomplete.
“Last year ko pa sinasabi ito, bago pa ‘yung ban. Transferring all turboprops out of NAIA was a problematic move. Yes, Clark should get its share of turboprops, to service people in nearby provinces. But completely banning them from NAIA is not the way to go,” he maintained.
Zubiri urged Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and the Manila Slot Coordination Committee to formulate a workable compromise that restores turboprop operations at NAIA while preserving airport efficiency.
“I always say tourism is a low-hanging fruit for us. We have spectacular beaches and mountain ranges and cuisine. There is a lot to discover all over the country, for foreigners and Filipinos alike. But tourists will not come unless we have an efficient tourism infrastructure,” Zubiri pointed out.
“I hope the Department of Transportation heeds our call. Bringing turboprops back to NAIA is a vital move for our tourism industry,” he concluded.