The new 2,500-seat dining hub at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 is set to operate by December, adding more food options and space for passengers ahead of the expected travel surge for the upcoming holidays, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The Tambayan Food Hall, developed by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) will showcase concessionaires from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with Halal-certified options. 

A Departure Food Village with a 500-seating capacity will also open the same day. 

DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez over the weekend also conducted an inspection of airport facilities to assess readiness for the upcoming holiday rush. 

The inspection covered terminal operations, including the use of self check-in and bag-drop counters and the rollout of new e-gates. 

The eGates, deployed in Terminals 1 and 3, are designed to shorten immigration queues. Phase 1 is scheduled to go live starting December, with its full deployment expected early next year. 

NAIA processed more than 50 million passengers in 2024. Numbers are expected to climb further during the holiday season.