Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is experiencing a notable rise in international flights and new airline routes, a sign of expanding global confidence in the Philippines as a destination, according to NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the airport’s private operator.
The latest addition is Philippine Airlines’ new Manila–Da Nang route, launched today, 1 July. This follows earlier expansions by carriers such as Air France, Air Canada, and Vietjet, offering new direct links to cities including Seattle, Brisbane, Paris, Sapporo, and Vancouver. Air India and United Airlines are also set to expand services by October, adding direct flights to New Delhi and additional frequencies to San Francisco, respectively.
Regional connections are also growing, with flights now reaching destinations like Chiang Mai, Thailand.
NNIC president Ramon S. Ang attributes the growth to surging tourism, trade, and business travel, alongside operational improvements at NAIA. Since NNIC assumed operations in September 2024, initiatives such as terminal upgrades, congestion reduction, and system modernization have enhanced passenger handling and airline turnaround.
Passenger traffic hit 1.17 million over the 2025 Holy Week, up 12.7 percent year-on-year, with an 83.28 percent on-time performance rate. To support continued growth, NAIA is building Terminal 5 to raise annual capacity to 62 million, while boosting hourly air traffic from 42 to 48 movements. Other upgrades include advanced check-in and baggage systems, improved commercial amenities, and new biometric e-gates to streamline immigration processes.
