NAIA sees steady growth in global flight activity

The New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) on Tuesday reported steady growth in international flights and airline partnerships at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), signaling an upswing in global connectivity through the country’s primary gateway.

The announcement follows the launch of new direct services by both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to Da Nang, Vietnam. Philippine Airlines initiated its route this July, while Cebu Pacific pioneered nonstop flights to the same destination in late 2023.

According to NNIC president Ramon Ang, a series of operational improvements is driving the momentum. “We are scoring quick wins where we can by improving systems, facilities, and passenger flow. The results: we are now able to accommodate more flights and reduce congestion at the terminals,” Ang said in a statement.

NAIA has recently welcomed new international routes operated by major foreign carriers, including Air France, Air Canada, and Vietjet Airlines. New destinations now directly accessible from NAIA include Seattle, Brisbane, Paris, Sapporo, and Vancouver. Cebu Pacific has also introduced flights to Chiang Mai, further broadening regional travel options for Filipino passengers.

Looking ahead, United Airlines will add a second daily flight to San Francisco, while Air India is scheduled to begin nonstop flights to New Delhi in October.

The growth in airline services reflects the effectiveness of recent modernization efforts. These include the removal of derelict aircraft from NAIA’s airside to enhance ground movement efficiency and aircraft parking capacity.

NNIC also confirmed the start of critical upgrades to check-in systems and baggage handling equipment across terminals to reduce bottlenecks and improve the passenger experience.

As part of its long-term expansion strategy, a fifth terminal—Terminal 5—is slated for construction. Once completed, it will increase NAIA’s annual capacity to 62 million passengers and raise air traffic movement capacity from the current 40-42 per hour to 48.

Enhanced food, retail, and lounge options are also planned across terminals to meet rising passenger expectations.

The San Miguel Corporation-led consortium managing NNIC has said these improvements are part of a broader push to modernize NAIA and position it to meet growing demand for international and domestic travel.