Passenger and flight volumes at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are expected to hit record highs this year, driven by a steady rise in international routes and airline operations, according to New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC).

The airport operator said Tuesday that the growing number of flights signals increasing global confidence in the Philippine economy.

“We are scoring quick wins where we can by improving systems, facilities, and passenger flow. The results: we are now able to accommodate more flights and reduce congestion at the terminals,” NNIC president Ramon S. Ang said.

The latest addition is Philippine Airlines’ new direct service between Manila and Da Nang, Vietnam, which launched on 1 July with inaugural send-off and arrival ceremonies at NAIA Terminal 1.

More routes scheduled

More routes are scheduled to launch soon. Air India is set to begin direct flights from New Delhi in October, while United Airlines plans to add a second daily service to San Francisco. NAIA also recently began servicing flights to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Earlier this year, new routes at NAIA were opened by Air France, Air Canada and Vietjet Airlines. These include direct flights to Seattle, Brisbane, Paris, Sapporo, Vancouver, and now Da Nang.

New terminal

To accommodate further growth, NAIA is building a new Terminal 5 to raise capacity to 62 million passengers annually. It is also increasing air traffic movements from 40–42 to 48 per hour and expanding food, retail, and lounge options across terminals.

Since taking over operations in September 2024, NNIC has focused on boosting efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience.

During Holy Week in April, NAIA served over 1.17 million passengers in just eight days, up 12.7 percent from 2024, while maintaining an on-time performance rate of 83.28 percent.