Terminal fees at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) rose on Sunday, the first hike in 20 years.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) declared that the adjustment was needed to sustain upgrades at the country’s main gateway.
Since taking over the terminal’s operations in September 2024, NNIC has remitted P48.3 billion to the government, including a P30 billion upfront payment, it said in a statement yesterday. About 82 percent of the airport’s revenues go directly to the government coffers.
The Passenger Service Charge (PSC), or terminal fee, applies only to departing passengers and is collected only once per journey. It has increased from P550 to P950 for international flights, and from P200 to P390 for domestic flights.
“Operating an airport the size and scale of NAIA will always be demanding,” noted NNIC president Ramon Ang in a statement released on Sunday. “But what this first year has shown is that with teamwork, discipline, and the dedication of our people, real change is possible. Our employees from the frontlines to behind the scenes are the reason we have been able to serve more passengers, run more flights on time, and start building the airport the Filipino people deserve. Together with government and our partners, we will sustain these gains and finally deliver a truly world-class NAIA,” he said.
NNIC pointed out that even with the adjustment set by government with the Asian Development Bank as adviser NAIA’s rates will only match other local airports and remain among the lowest in Asia.
For comparison, Cebu charges P1,030 for international flights and P365 for domestic flights, while Davao, Iloilo, and Bohol have PSC rates of P900 for international and P350 for domestic flights. At Clark International Airport, the rates are P750 for international and P315 for domestic flights.
During its first year of operation, NNIC reported a 6 percent surge in passenger traffic at NAIA to 51.7 million, compared with the same period last year.
The airport also handled 283,771 flights. During this period, NAIA attained an on- time performance high of 92 percent in a single day the highest ever recorded in the airport’s history.
After its first year running NNIC is preparing to roll out a new facial recognition system powered by Collins Aerospace, where travelers will soon be able to check in, drop bags, clear security, and board flights using just their face.
Operational changes such as reconfiguring aircraft parking stands, expanding taxiway movements, and removing abandoned aircraft freed up valuable space for smoother airside operations, even allowing NAIA to add new domestic and international routes with 47 airline partners.
Inside the terminals, passengers are already seeing improvements: 11,820 new chairs, 2,500 baggage trolleys, 21 new air-conditioning units and chillers, and Wi-Fi upgraded from 1G to 10G. All escalators, walkalators, and elevators are now operational, while 34 new boarding bridges have been ordered. Restroom renovations are ongoing, with one set already refurbished, six under renovation, and 10 new ones planned.
A dedicated OFW lounge in Terminal 3 has served nearly half a million overseas Filipino workers, with a second lounge set to open at Terminal 1.
Passenger mobility has also improved with a fleet of 20 new shuttle buses, already carrying more than half a million travelers between terminals. Behind the scenes, baggage handling was streamlined to process 51.3 million bags over the past year, keeping pace with the passenger surge without the long queues NAIA was once known for.
