Amid the influx of passengers, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has registered a high on-time performance (OTP) –an indicator of flights punctuality– among airlines on Holy Monday, its chief reported on Tuesday.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is expecting 1.2 million travelers to pass through the NAIA this Holy Week until April 10, with a daily average volume of 120,000 to 140,000 passengers.

MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong said there were around 117,000 passengers at NAIA on Holy Monday and 126,000 passengers the previous day.

“Pero maganda lang ‘yung on-time performance natin, mataas kahapon, nasa 91.8 percent. Iyon kasi ang gusto natin, kahit maraming pasahero, pag on-time ‘yung flights hindi napupuno ‘yung ating terminals (What’s good is that we registered a high on-time performance yesterday — 91.8 percent. That is what we wanted because if the flights are on time, the terminals will not be crowded even if there’s a large volume of passengers),” he told reporters.

Chiong, along with other government officials, will inspect the situation at NAIA terminals Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, 50 new screening officers will be deployed at the NAIA for the Holy Week.

Office for Transportation Security (OTS) administrator Ma. O Aplasca said 300 personnel have resigned for various reasons, and the 50 new personnel belong to the first batch of recruits to replace the former.

Based on a post on the OTS Facebook page, the 50 personnel will serve as tray retrievers and passenger controllers.

Earlier, the OTS reported the deployment of 2,400 personnel in airports nationwide for the peak season.

It has also deployed a “threat and vulnerability assessment team” in different transportation facilities since April 1. (PNA)