The passenger volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for the first three quarters of 2023 has already surpassed the total number of domestic and international passengers that used the country's main gateway in 2022.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which manages NAIA, registered a total of 33,757,646 domestic and international passengers from January to September of this year, marking a 9 percent increase over 2022's total passenger volume of 30,943,105. This figure signifies a remarkable 59 percent surge in passenger volume during the same period in 2022 and is equivalent to 95 percent of the first three quarters' performance in 2019, the last full year before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic and international flight movement remains robust, with 206,050 flights taking off and landing at NAIA from January to September 2023, up 31 percent from the same period in 2022 and 2 percent higher than the first three quarters of 2019.

For both passenger volume and flight movement, this year's third-quarter performance has emerged as the strongest three-month period compared to this year's first and second-quarter numbers. Since the pandemic, July 2023 saw the most passengers in a single month with 4,185,555, while August 2023 logged the most flights in a month at 23,969.

"With this consistent growth, MIAA remains on track to achieve our year-end projections of 45 million passengers and 275,000 flights by the end of 2023. These projected flight estimates are poised to surpass the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, reflecting the resilience and recovery of the aviation industry in the Philippines," MIAA Officer-in-Charge Bryan Co remarked.

Along with this consistent upward trend, NAIA's flight on-time performance (OTP) has improved considerably. MIAA held an average OTP of 80 percent in September 2023, matching the highest average OTP rate recorded this year in March. Conforming to accepted international standards, flights that depart and arrive at NAIA within 15 minutes of the scheduled time are regarded as on-time.

This result represents a major improvement from the OTP's low of 60 percent in early June. This decline was attributed to hurdles such as the temporary suspension of all flight and ground operations at NAIA during a Red Lightning Alert, as well as issues with aircraft maintenance and spare parts that disrupted major airline operations.

MIAA's enhanced schedule reliability can be attributed to a strategic blend of software solutions and technology, combined with vigilant monitoring. The airport successfully mitigated operational disruptions caused by Red Lightning Alerts by utilizing innovative technology and real-time monitoring systems, significantly enhancing OTP. Furthermore, close collaboration with airlines and aviation stakeholders to address industry challenges ensured the timely deployment of the required resources needed to support flight schedules.

"MIAA remains committed to ensuring the safety, efficiency, and satisfaction of our travelers and stakeholders, and we will continue to work collaboratively with airlines and industry partners to sustain this positive trajectory in the months ahead," Co said.