NAIA Terminal Rationalization Takes Effect


28 October 2018

Qantas Airways—October 28
United Airlines—October 28
Qatar Airways—December 1
Turkish Airlines—January 1




Four international airlines will begin transfer of its operations to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA 3) today, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said the move is intended to make space for flights to and from the United States at NAIA Terminal 1 beginning October 29.

“International flights, specifically US flights, which is really giving us more volume in terms of arrival and departure, we will transfer them to Terminal 1,” Monreal said.

Qatar Airways is relocating on December 1 while Turkish Airlines will move on January 1. Three more airlines from Terminal 1 will also move to Terminal 3 early next year.

“Its replacement eventually will be all PAL long haul flights from UK, Canada and the United States as it generates heavy volume of passengers at Terminal 2” adds Monreal.

PAL operates long haul flights to Honolulu, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, New York, and London. It will add two more flights to Seattle and Chicago beginning next year.

“We’ll be able start minimizing international operations in Terminal 2, because as we all know Terminal 2 is not really designed for international travel,” he added.

MIAA said that PAL Express domestic flights will also be moved back from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2, but details have yet to be finalized.

“Merong ililipat sa Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 na domestic,” Monreal said.

MIAA added that the next step would be to relocate all PAL international flights to Terminal 1 while relocating also all other international airlines operating at Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.

“This will pave the way for Cebu Pacific to relocate all their domestic flights from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2. That will take effect next year.” Monreal added.

Airport authorities hopes to rationalize the NAIA terminals next year, with Terminals 1 and 3 devoted to international flights, with Terminals 2 and 4 for domestic flights.

10 comments:

  1. What if PAL uses Terminal 3 for international flights and Cebu Pacific uses Terminal 1 for international flights? Would that be better?

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    1. That would be a great idea. It is not good if PAL will use terminal 1 for all international flights.

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    2. It is advantageous for PAL to use T1 instead of T3 so that transfers can be easier logistically between T2 Domestic and T1 International. Malaking ikot ang T3 from T2 for ground transfers.

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  2. Wow. Qantas and Qatar Airways can now use Cathay Pacific's lounge at T3 for business class passengers and oneworld emeralds and sapphires while Turkish and United Airlines can likewise use Singapore Airlines' lounge. PAL is also building a new but smaller lounge at T1 but would it be enough for UK, Canada, US and middle east flights? What about the PAL middle east flights at T1, will they transfer back to T2 or remain at T1? What about the new larger lounge being built at T2, would it still push through even though all international flights are to be transferred soon to T1?

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  3. Just out of curiosity? Why they don't just demolished T1 and build a new international terminal there, which is more space efficient. I know it sound like the recent renovation that T1 has undergo will all be wasted. But I think it will be better to simply demolish T1 and re-located cargo terminal to another part of Naia, which will provide space to build a new Terminal is there laws that protect T1?

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    1. Because they understand that NAIA is not forever and such a CapEx is not feasible if they intend to close down NAIA later on in favor of Sangley and Bulacan. Government will get a huge windfall in converting NAIA into a new BGC later on. Besides, the CBDs in Manila are now becoming crowded and nearing full capacity in the next decade so converting NAIA into a CBD makes a lot of sense.

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  4. T1 was designed by a National Artist. You can’t just demolish the structure without going through a lot of paperworks.

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    1. I agree. I do wish that in the long term, when NAIA gets replaced by a new airport and converted into a business district in 10-15 years time, they decide preserving T1. By that time, more or less it's already 50 years old so it should already be protected by legislation then. I love the architecture and the warm wood accents in the interior, it's undeniably Locsin. They could repurpose it into an office building. And also given the historical significance that it contributed to the political upheaval that toppled a dictatorship.

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    2. I would love if they could convert T1 into a hotel hahaha for sure I will check in there for a staycation in the future

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  5. We need new Airport!

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