The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) sustained its strong recovery, handling 66.91 percent of international visitor arrivals from January to early September 2024.
Department of Tourism Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso highlighted the crucial role NAIA in the recovery of the tourism industry during the Economic Journalist Association of the Philippines-San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Aviation Forum on Monday.
“NAIA’s share has risen to 66.91 percent, so it’s an increase of 6.26 percent compared to the same period last year,” she said.
Data from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) revealed a strong recovery in both international and domestic travel.
International flights via NAIA reached 102,876 in 2023, representing 84 percent of 2019’s 122,902 flights, while international passenger traffic hit 20.42 million, indicating an 84-percent recovery from 24.98 million in the pre-pandemic period.
Domestic flights surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching 168,035 in 2023, a 109-percent recovery from 2019’s154,628. Domestic passenger traffic also exceeded 2019 figures of 22.91 million, with 24.87 million passengers in 2023.
Buensuceso said the growth was attributed to various factors including expanded flight connectivity, the rise of low-cost carriers and ongoing efforts to elevate the overall visitor experience.
The Department of Tourism (DOT), in collaboration with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), has been actively enhancing NAIA’s facilities and services, she said.
The “Filipinization” of NAIA Terminal 2 is a prime example, showcasing the country’s unique culture to visitors. The upcoming NAIA public-private partnership (PPP) aims to modernize the airport and further improve the visitor experience, positioning NAIA among the world’s leading airports.
“We believe that we are on the road to transforming this visitor experience into one of the best, if not the best, among capital cities in the region, and the airport PPP should serve as a platform for the NAIA to improve this ranking further in the years to come,” Buensuceso said.
