Airport authorities across the Philippines are preparing for a sharp increase in holiday travel, with passenger volumes projected to approach one million as Christmas and New Year draw closer.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) placed the country’s aviation sector under heightened alert after forecasting roughly 960,000 air travellers during the peak holiday window, reflecting a seven per cent rise compared with last year’s figure of 895,000 passengers.
According to CAAP, the alert status will be enforced at all airports nationwide from December 20, 2025 until January 4, 2026, a period traditionally marked by heavy outbound and inbound traffic as Filipinos move between provinces and overseas destinations.
To ease congestion and respond to potential disruptions, airport operators have deployed additional personnel, including security teams and medical staff, while passenger help desks have been activated to provide on-ground assistance throughout the holiday period.
CAAP Director General Raul Del Rosario said airport operations are being reinforced to keep movement orderly during the busiest travel days, stressing that passenger safety and smooth processing remain central to the agency’s preparations.
Recent data from the Manila International Airport Authority showed that Ninoy Aquino International Airport handled 4.62 million passengers in December 2024 alone, with international travellers accounting for 2.22 million and domestic passengers numbering about 2.4 million.
The anticipated surge is closely linked to the strong tradition among Filipinos of returning home for Christmas, a season widely associated with family reunions. For overseas Filipino workers in particular, the holidays often prompt long-awaited homecomings, even as airfare prices rise and seats become limited.
