Passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are enduring uncomfortable conditions as the terminal’s air-conditioning system suffered a malfunction just ahead of the long weekend. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced on Friday that the issue stems from a malfunction in one of the terminal’s aircon chillers, affecting the entire cooling system.
MIAA spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo explained in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB that three of the terminal’s chillers are currently under maintenance after engineers observed rising temperatures while the units were in operation. “Our engineering team detected the temperature increase and decided to shut down the system temporarily for inspection to prevent potential major damage,” Bendijo said.
As a precaution, the MIAA temporarily shut down the affected chillers to prevent any significant damage. Maintenance teams are currently performing descaling, cleaning, and swabbing procedures on the units to restore optimal conditions. Despite these efforts, passengers are advised to prepare for warm conditions inside the terminal until repairs are completed.
In response, MIAA has advised travelers to wear light clothing, stay hydrated, and bring fans to help cope with the heat. Additional cooling fans are being deployed throughout the terminal to alleviate the discomfort.
Bendijo indicated that repair work is expected to continue into Saturday morning, with improved temperature levels anticipated by noontime. He acknowledged the poor timing of the malfunction, especially during a busy travel period, but emphasized the necessity of addressing the issue to ensure passenger safety.
This incident follows a similar disruption last month when Terminal 3’s air conditioning was shut down for 12 hours, leading to sweltering conditions that passengers likened to “Saudi-like” heat.
MIAA is working diligently to resolve the issue as quickly as possible to minimize inconvenience for travelers and airport staff.