MANILA - Philippine Airlines on Friday lauded the United States' decision to lift its security advisory on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The flag carrier congratulated the Philippine government for upgrading the security in the country's main gateway to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
"As the flag carrier and largest international airline operating at the NAIA, Philippine Airlines will continue to cooperate with the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) to sustain the positive developments so that our passengers benefit from a safe and secure gateway airport in their journeys to and from Manila," PAL said in a statement.
PAL operates flights to US destinations Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Guam and Honolulu.
The Department of Tourism earlier said the development could boost the government's efforts to lure more tourists to the country.
“We, at DOT, are very elated and encouraged by this development as we renew our commitment to extend to the public, particularly our international visitors, the highest potentials of the Filipino brand of service,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
"This development also augurs well for the DOT's efforts to increase tourist arrivals and for the development of a culture of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism in the country," she said.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the travel advisory on the Philippines' busiest airport in December 2018, saying the hub's security falls short of international standards.
The advisory was lifted 7 months after new X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors and alarm systems were installed in the airport.
Philippine Airlines, PAL, flag-carrier, NAIA, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, transportation, security, travel advisory, ICAO, United States, aviation