Philippine leader says 'worst airport' now looking much better

Philippine leader says 'worst airport' now looking much better

MANILA - President Benigno Aquino Wednesday hailed renovations to the Philippines' main international airport, expressing optimism it would soon shake off its ranking on one website as the world's worst airport.

Almost a year after he personally apologised for the failure of air-conditioning at Terminal 1 of Manila's international airport, Aquino said the facility appeared to be completely different.

"It is like I have entered a completely different airport," he told reporters as he inspected the 34-year-old terminal.

Asked by reporters if the terminal would no longer be called the world's worst, Aquino told reporters: "That's up to you, but they even raised the ceiling." Ninoy Aquino International Airport - named after the president's father, who was assassinated there in 1983 - topped the list of worst airports on the travel website "The Guide to Sleeping in Airports" from 2011-2013.

Travellers have long criticised its "dilapidated facilities", dishonest airport workers, rude officials and long waiting times, the website said.

However in its 2014 survey at http://www.sleepinginairports.net/2014/worst-airports.htm, the Manila terminal improved its standing - to only the fourth worst in the world, after Islamabad, Jeddah and Kathmandu airports.

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