A fresh round of terminal changes is set to take effect at Ninoy Aquino International Airport before the end of the month, as its private operator rolls out a new distribution of international carriers across key facilities.
The New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) said Tuesday that beginning March 29, selected foreign airlines will transfer between Terminals 1 and 3 in an effort to ease crowding and better manage passenger flow within the airport complex.
Five international carriers currently operating at Terminal 1 — Shenzhen Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Air China, Vietnam Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines — will relocate to Terminal 3. At the same time, AirAsia and AirAsia Berhad’s international services will shift in the opposite direction, moving from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1. Japan Airlines is also scheduled to transfer from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.
According to NNIC, the reassignment aims to make more efficient use of available space and streamline traveler movement inside the airport.
Travelers are being advised to review their updated flight details and keep track of announcements from their respective airlines to avoid confusion or delays when the changes take effect.
The reconfiguration follows a series of upgrades introduced over the past year at NAIA, including the installation of biometric electronic gates, the opening of additional dining areas, and the expansion of lounge facilities.
These developments form part of the broader rehabilitation program being carried out by the San Miguel-led consortium, which secured the P170-billion NAIA modernization project in 2024.
In a statement issued in September last year, San Miguel Corp. told the public they could “expect improvements in the facilities within the next three to six months.”
“Long term, the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) plans to construct a new terminal and other facilities that will increase NAIA’s capacity from 35 to 62 million passengers annually. For now, NNIC will maintain smooth operations, with gradual and methodical improvements,” the company added.
NNIC has published an updated directory of airline terminal assignments on its official website.
