MANILA—A burst of new routes from Air France, Air Canada, VietJet and Philippine carriers is propelling a steady rise in international traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said Tuesday. The uptick follows a string of “quick‑win” fixes—better stand allocation, upgraded baggage nodes and the removal of junked aircraft—that have freed capacity at the 47‑year‑old hub.
“By tackling the pain points first, we’ve opened space for more flights while easing terminal congestion,” NNIC president Ramon S. Ang told reporters.
Who’s Flying In—And Where
| New/Expanded Route | Airline | Start date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris (CDG) ↔ Manila | Air France | Winter 2024, now year‑round | 3x weekly (corporate.airfrance.com) |
| Vancouver ↔ Manila | Air Canada | 2 Apr 2025 | 4x weekly (aircanada.com) |
| Seattle ↔ Manila | Philippine Airlines | 2 Oct 2024 | 3x weekly (B787) |
| Paris ↔ Manila | Cebu Pacific* code‑share | Dec 2024 | 3x weekly |
| Sapporo (via Taipei) ↔ Manila | Thai VietJet | Dec 2024 | 4x weekly (aeroroutes.com) |
| Da Nang ↔ Manila | PAL (new), Cebu Pacific (Dec 2023) | Jun 2025 / Dec 2023 | 4x / 3x weekly |
*Commercial agreement awaiting CAB approval.
Next on the board: Air India will make Manila its newest South‑Asian link with five‑weekly Delhi–Manila flights from 1 Oct 2025, while United Airlines will double its Manila–San Francisco service to twice daily starting 25 Oct 2025. (m.economictimes.com, sfchronicle.com)
Capacity Crunch Eases—But Only Just
NNIC’s rapid‑fire fixes have already nudged peak aircraft movements from 40–42 to 48 per hour, and the operator says a planned Terminal 5 will raise annual passenger capacity to 62 million, roughly matching the airport’s 2024 throughput of 50.3 million. (aviationupdatesph.com, en.wikipedia.org)
Reality check: 62 million remains well shy of the 100 million‑passenger target of the delayed New Manila International Airport in Bulacan (now tipped to open in 2028) and Singapore Changi’s pre‑pandemic 67 million. For Manila, incremental fixes will therefore remain crucial even after Bulacan comes on line. (bworldonline.com, ainvest.com)
Tourism Tailwind
More air seats dovetail with the Department of Tourism’s push for 12 million annual foreign arrivals by 2028—a 65 % jump from the 7.3 million visitors expected this year. Industry forecasts put visitor arrivals at 9.7 million in 2028, suggesting room for upside if airlift continues to grow. (manilastandard.net, bworldonline.com)
Quick Wins, Lingering Questions
- Ground‑handling overhaul: NNIC has begun swapping vintage check‑in and baggage systems for cloud‑based platforms, trimming average bag‑to‑belt time to 18 minutes (down from 26), according to internal data.
- Apron clearing: Eight abandoned freighters and a Boeing 737 hulk were scrapped or towed away in May, freeing four remote stands and cutting push‑back delays.
- Revenue share: Under the ₱170‑billion, 15‑year concession inked in February 2024, NNIC guarantees the government 82 % of gross aeronautical revenue—a model other congested Philippine gateways are now eyeing. (business.inquirer.net)
Yet persistent issues remain: runway crossing delays at peak hours, limited taxiway shoulders for Code F (A350/B777X) operations, and chronic curbside traffic outside Terminals 1 and 2. Aviation analysts say solving those snarls will decide whether NAIA can reclaim regional competitiveness—or merely tread water until Bulacan is ready.
Bottom Line
For travelers and airlines alike, NAIA’s facelift is already tangible: more nonstop choices, shorter turns and a modernized passenger journey. The challenge is scale. With Bulacan’s mega‑hub at least three years out, Manila’s flagship airport must wring every slot, gate and baggage belt it can—without slipping back into pre‑rehab gridlock. Early signs are promising, but the real stress test will arrive this holiday season, when the second United daily and a clutch of seasonal charters converge on an airport still learning new tricks.
(Original source: Philippine News Agency)
