The Department of Transportation (DOTr) yesterday assured higher charges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will not result in substantial increases in air fares as carriers could absorb some of the adjustments, according to DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista. 

NAIA private operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has implemented updated parking rates at the NAIA for the first time in over a decade on October 1. Other airport fees, such as landing fees, are expected to increase while terminal fee adjustments will be implemented in September 2025.

Bautista also said the new rates — from cargo to passenger terminal fees — are not the most expensive in Asean countries. 

“There are countries that are collecting higher than the new rates,” said Bautista.

He added the adjustments are being made to be able to generate revenues to enable the concessionaire to finance the infrastructure requirements that will modernize the airport.

Under the plan, terminal fees will increase to P390 from P200 for domestic flights and P950 from the P550 for international flights.

Last month, DOTr officially turned over the operations and maintenance of the NAIA to NNIC, the airport’s private concessionaire and expected airport improvements within the next three to six months.

“We expect that through the NAIA PPP (public-private partnership) project, we can finally catch up on the significant under-investment in airport development over the years,” Bautista said.

The consortium targets to double NAIA’s airport capacity to 62 million passengers per annum from 35 million passengers and eyes to improve air traffic movement to 48 movements per hour from 40.