The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) is expecting a 50 percent improvement in passenger experience this coming holiday season as it implements various upgrades at the 76-year-old international gateway.
“This Christmas season 2024, there will be at least 50 percent improvement from last year because we know how to talk to the airlines to go easy on scheduling the departures,” said NNIC President Ramon S. Ang.
“We also asked them to observe on-time departure, so with that, I believe our travelers will be happy this December,” he added in Filipino.
Just two months after taking over management of NAIA, the company Implemented a series of improvements already made or underway at the country’s premier international gateway.
These include airside enhancements, landside developments, and infrastructure upgrades, which are part of the initial phase of NNIC’s larger, multi-year rehabilitation and modernization plan for NAIA.
The operator, which took over management on September 14, 2024 said its current focus is to enhance the passenger experience, ease congestion, and ensure all facilities operate reliably.
“NAIA has long been operating way beyond its intended capacity of 35 million passengers per year. It has been serving around 45 million per year, and this year, we are anticipating reaching more than 50 million. Over the years, this has taken a huge toll on the already aging facilities and equipment at NAIA, leading to inevitable breakdowns and inconvenience for passengers,” Ang said.
“That’s why right now our emphasis is on ensuring that all facilities and equipment work reliably. At the same time, we’re working to address congestion and improve operational efficiencies, while laying the groundwork for major construction works,” he added.
NNIC outlined the various airside improvements it has implemented so far. These include the renovation of NAIA Terminal 4, the oldest passenger terminal, which began on November 6 as scheduled.
NNIC also increased the number of passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) in operation, with six designed for wide-body aircraft reopened. Two existing PBBs at Terminal 3 have been converted into “swing gates” to accommodate both domestic and international flights.
Procurement of a new explosive detection system (EDS) was completed in June 2024, before NNIC’s official takeover. Installation is slated for the first quarter of 2025, replacing the current 20-year-old system.
NNIC also announced that the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) implementation of a “fly-to-gate” biometric passenger processing system is underway.
Internet connectivity was also significantly improved at NAIA. Through partnerships with PLDT/Smart and Converge, passengers are now enjoying 50-60 Mbps average speeds, with up to 115 Mbps peak speeds. Free use has been extended to three hours, with no personal information required.
NNIC freed up approximately 1,800 parking slots, significantly improving traffic flow within the airport, which accommodates about 140,000 passengers daily.
Road network improvements are ongoing, including the expansion of roads and the addition of new toll exits from the NAIA Expressway to improve accessibility.
Curbside enhancements are currently being implemented to ease congestion and improve the convenience of passengers. NNIC has designated clear zones for pick-up, drop-off, and taxis, and is expanding the arrival curbsides across terminals to better accommodate traffic. Terminal 1’s curbside will be widened from 3 to 8 lanes, Terminal 2 from 4 to 8 lanes, and Terminal 3 from 8 to 12 lanes.
In July, NNIC also completed construction of, and opened, the new Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) lounge at Terminal 3. The lounge provides ample seating, free Wi-Fi, food and drinks.
To ensure a reliable power supply and improve power quality throughout the airport, NNIC has undertaken two major initiatives.
It has partnered with Meralco to install a 115KV dedicated substation for NAIA to enhance the airport’s electrical distribution system and support its modernization.
To further improve power reliability, NNIC also partnered with Mserv to install a 6.12 MW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system for Terminal 3. This will provide backup power to essential systems, including airfield lighting.
NNIC is also working with airline stakeholders to implement new terminal assignments in the first quarter of 2025 to reduce congestion in high-traffic terminals particularly Terminal 3 and utilize it for its original purpose—international operations.
This will help improve operational efficiency and optimize runway utilization, leading to fewer delays and better on-time performance for the airlines.
