The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) reported that in November the airport authority had initiated the upgrade of Taxiway November at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAI

According to the MIAA, Taxiway November serves as the inner taxiway of NAIA Terminal 3, with a stretch length of 1,748 kilometers, running parallel to Taxiway Delta and Runway 13/31. It serves aircraft operating at NAIA Terminals 3 and 4, as well as general aviation.

The airport authority said that to replace the flexible pavement with hard concrete, the MIAA started engineering work on Taxiway November on 6 November. This modification is intended to support all aircraft types at NAIA Terminal 3, with a focus on wide-body aircraft from foreign carriers.

MIAA Assistant General Manager for Engineering Antonio Mendoza said that their goal is to concrete all taxiways because it is more appropriate for wide-body aircraft. This will drastically lessen the requirement for pavement repairs brought on by asphalt's natural degradation.

"This change benefits not only MIAA but also airlines and passengers, ensuring a continuous flow of flight operations and allowing us to accommodate more flights at Terminal 3," Mendoza added.

This upgrade is divided into three to four phases, starting with a 400-meter section. The entire project is expected to be finished in 16 months, with 2025 being the planned completion date. At NAIA Terminal 3, phased work guarantees uninterrupted operations.

The expansion of the Taxiway Juliet in front of NAIA Terminal 2 will also go forward, according to MIAA. In order to reduce traffic at Terminal 3, the proposed concrete expansion would run parallel to Runway 13/31, Taxiway November and Taxiway Delta continue to the apron of NAIA Terminal 4.

Following this, a project to upgrade Taxiway Delta, NAIA Terminal 3's main taxiway, will be initiated. Similar to Taxiway November, the flexible asphalt pavement will be replaced with rigid concrete. This sequential approach allows aircraft to divert through Taxiway Juliet during the rehabilitation of Taxiway Delta.
 
MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co emphasized that these upgrades are part of a series, with further developments planned following a geotechnical investigation of NAIA's runways, taxiways, and aprons.
 
"The investigation will determine the aircraft classification number and pavement classification number, guiding our subsequent upgrades. This standardized international airport pavement rating system will also assist airlines in choosing suitable aircraft for NAIA," Co said.
 
"As the primary gateway for the country, it is our duty to continually upgrade and improve, ensuring that we remain at par with international standards for our pavements. Our engineering efforts contribute to our overarching goal of enhancing the passenger experience at NAIA," the airport acting chief added.