MANILA, Philippines—NAIA 3’s most important passenger Thursday liked what she saw—never mind the six-year wait.

A beaming President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo spent a leisurely hour touring and power-lunching with aviation VIPs at the newly opened terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA 3). She even took time to bid bon voyage to other passengers.

Ms Arroyo landed at NAIA 3 on a private jet from Cebu, and observers quickly noticed her mood to be in sharp contrast to the serious, nitpicking look she had when the presidential plane first landed at the controversial facility as part of a dry run last month.

“Happy trip! Where are you going?” the President greeted a group of passengers on their way to the boarding gates. The $600-million terminal opened to limited traffic on Tuesday.

Earlier in a program, Ms Arroyo hailed the terminal as “our showcase for tourism and economic progress.”

“Today’s commercial opening is a result of our resolve and determination to move this nation forward. Welcome to NAIA 3!” Ms Arroyo said in remarks hinting at none of the bitter legal wrangling that delayed NAIA 3’s opening for six years.

Launch of PAL Express

The President was the guest of honor at the launch of operations of Philippine Airlines’ low-fares unit PAL Express and affiliate carrier Air Philippines at NAIA 3.

Present was PAL chair Lucio Tan, who once made a bid to build the terminal but lost to a consortium of Philippine and Japanese investors and Germany’s Fraport AG. That contract, however, was eventually voided by the Supreme Court.

The President had lunch with Tan, his chief rival Lance Gokongwei of Cebu Pacific Air, NAIA 3 Task Force chair Michael Defensor, NAIA General Manager Alfonso Cusi and Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella.

But before everybody could take their designated seats, Ms Arroyo was seen asking Defensor to trade places with Gokongwei so the latter could sit right next to her.

Defensor, a former Cabinet secretary and losing senatorial candidate in last year’s elections, relished the sight of his “very happy” boss.

OK‘from toilets to counters’

The President deplaned at the NAIA 3 terminal for the first time on June 30, arriving after a working visit to the United States. She then reportedly made several comments on the various sections of the terminal that were still incomplete.

“But now, since we’re already operational, she looked at the counters where people pass through and she was very happy,” Defensor told reporters Thursday.

“We’ve been through a lot of difficulties going into this opening, but it’s all behind us now,” he added in Filipino. “From the toilets to the counters, we have already accomplished a lot.”

Defensor said Ms Arroyo “wants this airport to be of international standards” down to the choice of concessionaires.

13 million a year

Built for traffic of 13 million passengers annually, the terminal would be serving as the new hub for Cebu Pacific’s domestic operations, particularly for flights to Caticlan, Tuguegarao, Laoag, San Jose (Mindoro) and Naga.

PAL is using NAIA 3 for PAL Express’s budget flights to Caticlan, Busuanga, Calbayog, San Jose, Surigao and Virac.

Air Philippines has also started flying to Bacolod, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Naga, Puerto Princesa and Tuguegarao from the new terminal.

Defensor said NAIA 3’s international and domestic operations would go “full blast” by February. With a report from Agence France-Presse