THE Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is seeing steady growth in international flights as more airlines expand their operations, the president of New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), which operates the airport, said.
NNIC President Ramon Ang said in a statement on Tuesday the increase is driven by ongoing improvements at the airport.
“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.
On the same day, Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched its new direct flights between Manila and Da Nang, Vietnam, with send-off ceremonies at NAIA Terminal 1. The service operates three times weekly and is set to increase to four flights per week by November this year.
Earlier this year, new international routes launched at NAIA included flights by Air France, Air Canada, and Vietjet Airlines, connecting Manila to Seattle, Brisbane, Paris, Sapporo, Vancouver, and now Da Nang.
More flights are expected in the coming months. Air India will launch direct flights from New Delhi in October, and United Airlines will add a second daily service to San Francisco.
Since taking over NAIA operations in September 2024, NNIC said it has focused on boosting efficiency and passenger experience. During Holy Week in April, the airport handled over 1.17 million passengers in just eight days, up 13 percent from last year while maintaining an on-time performance rate of 83 percent, it added.
To support growth, NAIA is building a new Terminal 5 to raise capacity to 62 million passengers annually and increasing flight movements to 48 from 42 per hour. Upgrades are also underway for check-in, baggage handling, and terminal amenities, along with the removal of abandoned aircraft to free up parking and improve aircraft movement, NNIC added.
To ease passenger processing, the airport operator said it is introducing biometric e-gates to reduce long lines at immigration and bring NAIA in line with international standards.
Meanwhile, PAL said it now operates 24 weekly nonstop flights to Vietnam, covering Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi including direct Cebu-Ho Chi Minh service three times a week.
“As we welcome Da Nang to our global network, we affirm that PAL now serves three destinations in Vietnam, more than in any other Asean country, and that speaks of the solid bond of friendship that unites the Filipino and Vietnamese people,” PAL President Richard Nuttall said in a separate statement on Tuesday
Vietnam’s Ambassador to the Philippines Lai Thai Binh said the PAL-Vietnam route indicates more than a connection between two cities. “It’s a bridge between our people, cultures, and shared dreams.”
He added that the development is particularly significant as both countries prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-Philippines Strategic Partnership in 2025 and the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Philippines diplomatic relations in 2026.
Department of Tourism (DOT) Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano said Vietnam continues to rise as one of the most visited destinations by Filipino travelers, and as the Philippines welcomes more visitors from Vietnam, “this direct connection responds to the growing demand for accessible and enriching tourism experience.”
