Ruth Haines
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main airport serving Manila, Philippines. It is considered the best international airport as a gateway to the country, offering good services at a pocket-friendly range. However, NAIA has been criticised for operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers, causing congested air traffic and delayed flights. As a result, there are plans to build a new airport in Bulacan, with the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) currently under construction.
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What You'll Learn
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the main airport in Manila
- It is often considered the best international airport in the Philippines
- The airport is currently operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers
- The airport is set to undergo rehabilitation and expansion
- The New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is under construction
Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the main airport in Manila
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, also known as NAIA, is the main airport in Manila. It is located between the cities of Pasay and Paranaque, about 7 kilometres south of Manila. It is the only airport that serves Manila, though Clark International Airport in Angeles City is also a potential port of entry for the capital of the Philippines.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport is an old facility, first established in its current location in 1948. It has been through major renovations and constructions over the years and now has four terminals served by two runways. It can handle around 40 million passengers per year, though it is currently operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers. This has led to congested air traffic and delayed flights.
The airport has a range of facilities, including dining options, medical services, and duty-free shopping. Terminal 3 has been noted as the best spot to dine, with a good choice of restaurants on the 4th floor of the shopping mall it houses. There is also a landside lounge in Terminal 3 with comfortable sleep pods for travellers with long wait times. Terminal 1 has two waiting lounges, one of which includes showers, while Terminal 3 has three waiting lounges, two of which have showers.
The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with the Metro-Rail Transit line being an economical way to travel to and from the airport. The EDSA-Taft station is the closest, located about 2 kilometres north of the airport, with a shuttle bus available to get there. A convenient shuttle bus service also allows passengers to move between the airport terminals, departing every 15 minutes throughout the day.
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It is often considered the best international airport in the Philippines
The main airport in Manila is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It is the Philippines' busiest airport and major hub, serving Metro Manila and nearby provinces. It is also the largest airport in the Philippines and the most common entry point for international travellers.
NAIA has four terminals, each serving specific airlines. Terminal 1 handles most international flights, while Terminal 2 is a domestic-only terminal, serving airlines such as Philippine Airlines (PAL) and CebGo. Terminal 3 is the largest and most modern, serving both domestic and international routes for major airlines, including foreign carriers. Terminal 4 is currently closed for rehabilitation.
NAIA has been criticised in the past for being chaotic and overcrowded, with long and slow-moving lines. However, it has undergone upgrades and renovations in recent years, improving its facilities and services. The airport now offers lounges, restaurants, currency exchange, free Wi-Fi, and duty-free shops.
Despite competition from other airports in the Philippines, such as Clark International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, NAIA is often considered the best international airport in the country. Its convenient location near the capital city of Manila makes it an excellent gateway to the Philippines, especially for those planning to explore the city and surrounding areas.
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The airport is currently operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers
The main airport serving Manila in the Philippines is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). NAIA is located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) south of Manila. It is the Philippines' busiest airport, serving as a hub for PAL Express and Philippine Airlines, and as the main operating base for AirSWIFT, Cebgo, Cebu Pacific, and Philippines AirAsia. The airport is currently operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers, clogging air traffic and delaying flights.
NAIA has been in operation since 1948 and has undergone major renovations and constructions over the years. It now has four terminals served by two runways and can handle around 40 million passengers per year. Terminal 1, 2, and 3 handle international flights, while Terminal 4 is the Manila Domestic Passenger Terminal. Over 45 airlines serve Manila Airport, and various amenities are available throughout the terminals, including dining options, medical services, and duty-free shopping.
Due to NAIA's limited capacity, there have been consistent efforts to alleviate congestion and improve efficiency. In 2024, the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, took over the operations and maintenance of the airport. NNIC implemented terminal reassignments to optimise flight handling. Terminal 1 was designated for Philippine Airlines flights, Terminal 2 remained an all-domestic terminal, and Terminal 3 was dedicated to international flights.
In addition to terminal reassignments, there are ongoing construction projects aimed at reducing congestion at NAIA. One project is the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, which is expected to start operations in 2027. This new airport will have a capacity of up to 35 million passengers per year and will be fully owned by the government. Another project is the upgrade of Sangley Point Airport in Cavite City into an international airport. The development of these new airports underscores the recognition of the constraints in expanding NAIA's capacity and the urgent need for alternative solutions to handle the growing passenger traffic in the Greater Manila Area.
The challenges faced by NAIA highlight the complexities of managing a major international airport. While terminal reassignments and new infrastructure projects offer temporary relief, the continuous growth in air travel demands innovative solutions. As such, authorities are exploring various options, including expanding capacity at nearby airports, constructing new runways, and developing new airport sites to address the increasing passenger volume and ensure a seamless travel experience.
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The airport is set to undergo rehabilitation and expansion
The main airport serving Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), is set to undergo rehabilitation and expansion. The airport has been criticised for its poor facilities and operational inefficiencies, with it being consistently ranked as one of the world's worst airports.
In 2023, the Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC) submitted a ₱100 billion, 25-year proposal to rehabilitate the airport. This proposal was rejected by the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, which opted for solicited bidding instead. The winning bid, worth P170.6 billion, was awarded to the SMC SAP & Co. Consortium, later renamed as the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC). The contract was signed in March 2024, with the government expecting to earn ₱900 billion, or ₱36 billion annually, from the privatisation.
The airport's privatisation and rehabilitation are expected to address the airport's issues, including its limited capacity. NAIA is currently operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers, causing congested air traffic and delayed flights. To alleviate this, NNIC has planned terminal reassignments, with Terminal 1 exclusively serving Philippine Airlines, Terminal 2 maintaining its domestic status, and Terminal 3 dedicated to international flights.
In addition to the rehabilitation of NAIA, there are also plans to construct a new airport in Bulacan, known as the New Manila International Airport. This project, proposed by the San Miguel Corporation, aims to help decongest NAIA by providing an additional gateway to Manila. The new airport will be built on a 2,500-hectare coastal property and is expected to handle 75 million passengers annually, with the potential to expand to four runways and increase capacity to 100 million passengers.
The development of a new airport in the Greater Manila Area has been recognised as an "urgent need" due to the runway capacity constraints at NAIA. The government has adopted a dual airport system, upgrading NAIA's facilities while expanding Clark International Airport. With various proposals and plans underway, the rehabilitation and expansion of Manila's main airport are set to improve the travel experience and increase the capacity for passengers.
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The New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is under construction
The main airport in Manila is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It is located between the cities of Pasay and Paranaque, about 7 km south of Metro Manila. It is the Philippines' busiest airport and the only airport that serves Manila city. However, it is currently operating beyond its designed capacity of 35 million passengers, clogging air traffic and delaying flights.
To address this issue, the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is under construction. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on October 14, 2020, and the first phase of construction began on March 18, 2022. It is expected to be completed by 2027 or 2028. The airport is being developed by the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and will be constructed in the Municipality of Bulacan, 35 km north of Manila. It will be part of a larger 2,500-hectare "aerotropolis" or "airport city", featuring a residential zone, government center, seaport, and an industrial zone. The total project cost is estimated at PHP735 billion (USD13.9 billion), with SMC providing full funding of $12.57 billion.
The new airport will have four parallel runways and a world-class terminal, with an initial capacity of 35 million passengers per year, eventually expanding to 100 million upon full completion. It will be accessible through existing national and provincial roads from Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon regions. An 8 km airport toll road will also provide access to the North Luzon Expressway and the Skyway Stage 3 leading to the South Luzon Expressway.
The construction of the New Manila International Airport is expected to bring several benefits, including job creation, improved local economy, increased investment, and boosted tourism in Bulacan and its surrounding regions. It aims to reduce congestion at NAIA and other airports in the Greater Capital Region, ensuring that the Philippines can meet current and future demand for air transport services.
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Frequently asked questions
The main airport in Manila is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is also known as the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport or MNL Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Terminal 1 is for Philippine Airlines flights, Terminal 2 is an all-domestic terminal, and Terminal 3 is for international flights.
The Clark International Airport in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, also serves the Greater Manila Area.
There are currently proposals for the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan and the Sangley Point Airport in Cavite City to be upgraded to international airports.
