More efficient airport transportation needed

In most progressive countries, citizens have access to cheap transportation from airports through buses and trains. Thus bus routes and train routes include the airports.

When will we see this in the Philippines?

If a plane has a capacity of only 100 passengers, that would mean that at least 50 taxis and private vehicles will have to be on the way to the airport just for this plane’s passengers.

If there are just 20 planes landing in an airport in a day, that would mean a minimum of 1,000 vehicles going to and coming from the airport daily.

However, this is a conservative estimate as 747s can accommodate at least 300 passengers and there can be at least seven flights in an hour. So that could be at least 2,100 vehicles on the road in an hour.

Even if you cut by half the number of planes landing in the three terminals of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), that would still be a thousand vehicles on the road.

If in more affluent countries like Hong Kong, South Korea, etc., where people are more conscious of their time and take buses and trains as these are cheaper, can you imagine the relief among Filipinos who would prefer cheaper transportation?

Sure, the rich can afford taxis and have their own drivers. Let them be. If we could just cut even by half the number of vehicles on the road plying to and from Naia to pick up or drop passengers, that would be a great relief to all.

The current number of airport buses is too small (one per hour, as it takes one at least 45 minutes before leaving the airport). Besides their routes are too short and this is the greatest drawback; this will mean several rides for passengers.

Have airport buses that cover longer distances like Makati, and promote them.

There can be many options.

If other countries could make it work, we surely could too. The greatest incentives: reduced number of vehicles on the road, reduced transportation cost for passengers.

As for taxis, there are many other passengers that they can pick up elsewhere given that our public transportation system still needs much improvement.

Let this be a challenge to transport authorities and taxi operators in providing a more public-friendly system work. Also the “Build, build, build” program should include a train route to the airports in the plans.

JP FERNANDEZ, jpsfernandez@yahoo.com.ph