The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), under the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), has notably risen in the rankings of the world’s internationally connected airports. From being 29th in 2019, NAIA, coded MNL by the International Air Transport Association, has impressively climbed to the 15th spot in the 2023 Megahubs Index by OAG, a premier provider of digital flight information.
Notably, MNL also secured the third position in the top 25 low-cost carrier airport megahubs and ranks sixth among international megahubs in the Asia Pacific region. It trails behind airports in Malaysia (KUL), Japan (HND), Republic of Korea (ICN), Thailand (BKK), and Singapore (SIN). This surge is remarkable as the region is yet to fully recover, with seven Asian airport hubs listed in the Global Top 20.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) continues to be the dominant carrier, holding a 32% share of flights, while MNL hosts 40 international carriers connecting to 58 global destinations. Several airlines have expanded their operations to NAIA, including ZIPAIR, PAL, Air China, HK Express, and United Airlines, enhancing the airport’s international connectivity.
MNL is also a hub for Cebu Pacific Air, a leading low-cost carrier in the Philippines, which plans to introduce flights to a new destination, Da Nang, in December. The predominance of thirteen Asia Pacific airports in the rankings, including MNL, highlights the extensive low-cost carrier penetration in South and Southeast Asia.
MIAA officer-in-charge, Bryan Co, expressed gratitude for the international carriers’ trust and highlighted the growing number of applications from various carriers wishing to operate flights in NAIA. He emphasized the airport authority’s commitment to expanding destinations for both Filipinos and international guests.
Furthermore, Senator Grace Poe voiced optimism for improving transportation and connectivity through public-private partnerships (PPP). She emphasized the potential transformation of NAIA into a world-class airport through upcoming modernization projects and called for strong collaboration among various sectors for robust infrastructure investments.