Manila’s main gateway airport served a record-breaking 50.1 million passengers in 2024, marking a strong recovery in Philippine air travel that surpassed pre-pandemic levels, according to New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC).
In a press release published January 2, NNIC reported that passenger traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) rose 10.43% compared to 2023 and exceeded its previous record from 2019 by 5.08%.
NNIC also stated that the airport saw 293,488 flights, marking an 8.08% rise compared to 278,990 in 2019 and a 4.83% increase from the previous year’s 280,000. These figures indicate a strong rebound in air travel demand following the global pandemic.
“More Filipinos are flying, and more visitors are coming to the Philippines,” said Ramon S. Ang, President of NNIC.
“This growth is a clear sign that confidence in air travel has returned, and it motivates us to work even harder. Our goal is to ensure that NAIA provides a better experience for everyone—passengers, airlines, and partners alike.”
Since assuming NAIA’s operations in September last year, NNIC has emphasized its focus on improving NAIA’s operations and infrastructure.
Notably, the consortium claimed a significant improvement in on-time performance (OTP) during the peak holiday travel period from December 30 to January 1, reporting an average OTP of 83.36%, with a high of 88.35% recorded on December 31.
NAIA, which began operations in 1948, serves as the Philippines’ main international gateway and consists of four passenger terminals and two runways. The airport had faced challenges in recent years, including capacity constraints and infrastructure limitations, leading to the government’s decision to privatize its operations.
NNIC, a consortium comprising San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corp., secured the 15-year concession to manage NAIA in February 2024. The group’s winning bid promised the government an 82.16% revenue share, with projected earnings exceeding PHP 900 billion.
The consortium’s management marks a new chapter for the Philippines’ busiest aviation hub, which serves a significant portion of the country’s 2.33 million overseas Filipino workers. NNIC says it aims to transform NAIA into a facility capable of efficiently handling 62 million passengers annually across its four terminals.
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