Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, commonly called NAIA, is the airport serving Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and its surrounding metropolitan area.

Located south of Manila in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, it is the international gateway for most visitors entering the Philippines, and all major airlines in the Philippines have their main base of operations here.

Understand
Ninoy Aquino International Airport started as (and remains) a military base. Built in the 1930s by the Americans as the military-only Nichols Field, it became Manila International Airport when civilian operations were moved here from Manila's former airport, Nielsen Field (which today is part of makati), in 1948. It was renamed in honor of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. in 1987, four years after he was assassinated on the airport's runway apron as he returned from self-imposed exile in the United States. Aquino was a leader of opposition to the Marcos regime, and his murder helped set off changes that led to his widow becoming President.

NAIA is Southeast Asia's fifth-busiest airport, after the airports in Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. However, airport expansion has not caught up with passenger growth and the airport as a whole is set to reach capacity within the next 5-10 years: Terminals 1 and 2 are already operating beyond capacity, and intersecting runways make it difficult to increase capacity. As a result, the airport has developed an ominous reputation for poor infrastructure, long queues, delays, inefficient transit procedures and, more significantly, corruption. In 2011, two people were injured when part of the ceiling at Terminal 1 collapsed.

Terminal 1 was judged the world's worst airport terminal by the "Sleeping in Airports" website, and passenger opinion of NAIA as a whole is poor, from Filipinos and foreigners. In August 2013, an on-line survey by a hotel booking company rated NAIA as the worst airport in Asia, below airports in Vientiane, Yangon and Phnom Penh and a very long way behind the best, Singapore.

Things, however, are set to improve with significant government investment in NAIA. Terminal 1 is undergoing a ₱1 billion makeover to modernize facilities and to strengthen the building's structural integrity, while Terminals 2 and 3 will be expanded to support more flights. An elevated expressway has opened in 2016, easing travel between terminals and the rest of the metro, but a future connection to the Manila LRT Line 1 is expected to improve access to the airport for the long term. In addition to those developments, there is ongoing work to convert the military-only Sangley Point airfield in Cavite City into a secondary airport aimed on low-cost carriers, charter flights, and general aviation, decongesting NAIA by 20%; completion of the airport is expected no earlier than November 2019.

It is quite common for international travellers to bypass NAIA, instead entering the country via smaller and friendlier airports, mainly Clark for those whose final destination is in the north of the country and Cebu for those bound for the Visayas or Mindanao.

Flights




NAIA has four terminals, Terminals 1-4. Terminal 2 is commonly called the "Centennial Terminal", as it was opened for the Philippine Centennial in 1998, while Terminal 4 used to be called the Domestic Terminal. The terminals are in separate buildings that are not connected.

Many airlines that fly internationally into NAIA use Terminals 1 or 3, while local airlines use the other two:

NAIA charges a passenger service charge of ( for domestic flights), which is fully integrated into the cost of the ticket.

Departures
As with the norm in the Philippines, expect two security checkpoints: one landside, and another between landside and airside. Lines can be long on landside security, so allow a hour to go through the procedures, especially on busy days. With the notable exception of Terminal 3, only departing passengers with proof of a departing flight are allowed entry, so you will need to make your goodbyes outside the terminal building in the heat, dust and general kerfuffle.

Passengers on international flights must also pass through immigration before getting through airside security. On busy days or peak hours, expect waiting in line for 30 minutes to get through this process.

Ground transportation
Travelling between NAIA and the rest of Metro Manila is relatively straightforward.

By express bus
Genesis Transport is an express bus service operating between the airport and Clark International Airport in Angeles, Pampanga, primarily targeting transit passengers who need to connect to onward flights.

The buses depart from the arrivals area of Terminal 3, stopping only at Ortigas Center (at the Robinsons Galleria shopping mall). From Clark to NAIA, buses also stop at Terminals 1 and 2 before terminating at Terminal 3. The buses from NAIA to Clark run every 1-2 hours from 2AM till 12:30AM, while the buses from Clark to NAIA run from 1:30AM to 11PM. Travel time is between 3 and 4 hours, and the bus schedule doesn't correspond with flight schedules at either airport, so make sure to board the bus as early as possible to avoid missing your flight. A one-way ticket between NAIA and Ortigas is, a one-way ticket between NAIA and Clark is , and a one-way ticket between Clark and NAIA is depending on the terminal. Tickets are payable in cash only from points of departure.

Although the vast majority of the buses are operated by Genesis Transport buses, three daytime services (at 9AM, 2PM and 4PM between NAIA and Clark, and at 10:30AM, 12:30PM and 2:30PM between Clark and NAIA) are operated by JoyBus, a luxury sub-brand of Genesis Transport. JoyBus buses have a bus attendant on-board and are equipped with larger seats with in-seat entertainment, a restroom and other luxuries. A JoyBus ticket costs on top of the normal fare.

UBE Express ("Ultimate Bus Experience") is an express bus service operated by the Department of Transportation in conjunction with the cargo provider Air21, connecting Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to various hotels and tourist attractions.

Eight UBE Express routes are in operation:


 * Entertainment City route: NAIA → Solaire Resort and Casino → SM Mall of Asia
 * Robinsons route: NAIA → Hotel Jen (Cultural Center) → Bayview Park Hotel (Rizal Park) → Manila Hotel → Intramuros → Robinsons Place Manila
 * Makati route: NAIA → Ayala Center
 * Grand Prix route: NAIA → Kabayan Hotel (MRT Line 3's Taft Avenue station) → Grand Prix Hotel (Victory Liner Pasay Terminal)
 * Cubao route: NAIA → Araneta Center
 * Ortigas route: NAIA → Robinsons Galleria
 * Alabang route: NAIA → Alabang Town Center → Ayala Malls South Park
 * Laguna route: NAIA → Nuvali → Robinsons Sta. Rosa Market

The Cubao, Ortigas, Alabang and Laguna routes are operated as express routes (similar to the NAIA-Clark bus) and run from 5:30AM till 9PM, with buses leaving every 1-2 hours. A one-way ticket is to Ortigas,  to Cubao,  to Alabang and  to Laguna. All other routes run from 6AM till midnight, with buses leaving every 30 minutes. A one-way ticket is normally, although tickets are selling at half-price , and places may be reserved online. All buses are air-conditioned, low-floor and equipped with Wi-Fi.

By local bus
All terminals are directly served by Route 43/PITX-NAIA Loop, operated by UBE Express. The buses travel in a counter-clockwise loop as follows: Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) > Terminal 1 > Terminal 2 > Terminal 4 > Terminal 3 > PITX.

Terminals 1 and 2 are indirectly served by Route 44/Navotas-Alabang, operated by Alabang Metro Link. The buses pick up/drop off passengers along Ninoy Aquino Avenue, just outside the terminals.

Terminal 3 is indirectly served by Route 16/Eastwood Libis-Marriott Terminal, operated by Megaworld Corporation. The buses pick up/drop off passengers at Resorts World Manila, just outside the terminal.



By jeepney
Three jeepney routes serve the airport complex. While slower, less comfortable and not air-conditioned, jeepneys are a cheaper alternative to buses, and also run 24 hours a day. Fares are for the first  ( for students), with an additional  for every kilometer thereafter. Students are eligible for a 20% discount on jeepney fares, the same discount as for bus fares.


 * The Nichols–Vito Cruz–EDSA–Tramo jeepney route, which serves all four terminals, stops at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue (at the interchange between LRT-1 EDSA station and MRT-3 Taft Avenue station). The jeepney stop is just outside Giselle's Bus Terminal, beside the SOGO Hotel and the staircase leading up to MRT-3 Taft Avenue station.
 * The Baclaran–MIA jeepney route serves Terminals 1, 2 and 4 and originates at Quirino Avenue, just outside the LRT-1 Baclaran station. Some of these jeepneys may ply the longer Domestic Airport–Baclaran–South Pier jeepney route, which connects the airport to Manila South Harbor and passes through a number of points in Manila proper.

Jeepneys from Baclaran toward the airport stop first at Terminal 4 before stopping at Terminals 1 and 2. At Terminals 1 and 2, jeepneys stop at the designated bus stop, while at Terminal 4, the jeepneys stop in front of the terminal, either across from (outbound) or beside (inbound) the terminal. Similar to buses, jeepneys are only one-way between Terminals 1 and 2, stopping at Terminal 2 first before stopping at Terminal 1.

The Terminal 3 jeepney stop is outside the airport beside the Circulo del Mundo Rotonda, although it is possible to get off at Resorts World Manila (on the other side of the road) and cross Andrews Avenue to Terminal 3.

Because of the constricted space of jeepneys, it's not recommended to use them if you have bulky luggage.

By taxi
For many travellers, taxis are the easiest and most convenient way of reaching the airport.

Official yellow airport taxis are available to bring passengers to and from the airport, charging a flagdown rate of plus an additional  for every 250 m. Each departing taxi is registered by a dispatcher. These will cost up to depending on your destination. Make sure to look up how far your destination is so you have a rough idea of how much you should be charged. Easily half of all taxis in Manila rip off foreigners every day. Always insist on using the meter and refuse to pay the posted fare if it's exorbitantly high.

Regular white city taxis to or from the airport cost between to most destinations within the city, depending on the distance. While city taxis are only allowed only to drop off passengers at the departures level of each terminal (or at a special drop-off only taxi rank in front of Terminal 4) and are barred from picking up anyone, arriving passengers on a penny-pinching budget may want to go up the elevator to the departure level from arrivals and flag down one that had just dropped off someone and are heading out. Since they don't pass on any airport-related fees, they are much more affordable. However, security guards are under orders to shoo away white taxis picking up passengers in the departure area. Always insist on using the meter.

Special coupon taxis are taxis with fixed rates according to the destination. Coupon taxis serve hotels in Metro Manila, most points within the city, and towns and cities throughout Luzon. Some coupon taxi operators use minivans or SUVs, which may be useful for large groups. These fixed rate taxis can charge extortionist rates though, or higher to reach downtown Manila when a metered taxi would have cost.

Finally, ride sharing services like Grab are no longer banned from the airport, and it is possible to request for one to pick you up. Depending on traffic conditions, they can be cheaper or more expensive than taxis.

By car
The fastest way to or from the airport by road is through the elevated NAIA Expressway (NAIAx). Connecting the airport complex to the Metro Manila Skyway (and the South Luzon Expressway), the Manila–Cavite Expressway and Macapagal Boulevard, it provides a quick, direct and traffic-free connection to many parts of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, with exits for Terminals 1, 2 and 3.

The NAIA Expressway has two connected segments. The short segment connects Macapagal Boulevard and the Manila–Cavite Expressway to Terminals 1 and 2, while the long segment connects the short segment to Terminal 3 and the Metro Manila Skyway. Tolls for driving on the short segment are, while driving on the long segment costs. On top of that, the Metro Manila Skyway also collected a toll of on trips to or from the airport, but collection has been suspended  while integration of the Skyway and NAIAx toll structures is ongoing.

Surface roads also serve NAIA, all of which are named after the airport or prominent aviators. These include NAIA Road (formerly MIA Road) and Ninoy Aquino Avenue for Terminals 1 and 2, Andrews Avenue for Terminal 3, and Domestic Road for Terminal 4. Terminal 4 is accessible only through surface roads, with no connection to the NAIA Expressway. Although driving in Metro Manila is not for the faint-of-heart, with the opening of the expressway the surface roads are significantly less congested than before, and during times of light traffic (such as early morning) they can be a faster alternative.

All four terminals have parking lots.


 * Cars parking at Terminal 1 may park at Lots A and B, which have a combined capacity of 500 cars. While Lot C is largely occupied by the airport taxi fleet, there are slots available for paying patrons.
 * Cars parking at Terminal 2 may park at Car Parks 1 and 2, which have a combined capacity of around 1,100 cars. Car Park 2 is partially occupied by the airport taxi fleet.
 * Cars parking at Terminal 3 may park at the open car park, which has a capacity of 1,200 cars, or at the multilevel parking building beside the terminal, with a capacity of 2,000 cars.
 * Cars parking at Terminal 4 may park at the open car park located on the other side of Domestic Road, which has a capacity of around 155 cars.

Regular parking is for the first 2 hours, while overnight parking is /day. Cars left at the airport overnight have to be registered with security personnel upon entry. For more information, the Manila International Airport Authority also operates a parking lot hotline at +63 2 877-1109, extension 4315.

By train
LRT Line 1's Baclaran station is approximately 1.5km from Terminal 4. No shuttle bus is provided.

Get around
NAIA is famous for being difficult to transit through, especially if the connecting flight leaves from a different terminal. However, free shuttle buses transport passengers between terminals. The buses run every 15 minutes, although adherence to the schedule tends to be spotty. Shuttle buses depart from the arrival area of all terminals, so make sure to have a visa (if required to enter or transit the Philippines) if connecting to a flight departing from another terminal. The terminals are in completely separate buildings that are not connected. If in a rush, take a taxi. Allocate at least three hours when transiting between terminals (especially if going to Terminal 3) in case of traffic congestion around airport roads.

Passengers connecting between Philippine Airlines and PAL Express flights may avail of a free airside shuttle service between Terminals 1, 2 and 3. (Update in Jan 2020: there is free airside shuttle from terminal 1 to terminal 2. However, if you connect from terminal 2 to terminal 1, the shuttle is landside and comes at every 30 minutes which makes walking may be a quicker option if you have a tight connection)

There is also a free airside shuttle service between Terminals 3 and 4 for passengers connecting between Cebu Pacific and Cebgo flights.

It is also possible to walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 (and vice-versa) via the International Cargo Terminal, using the same road used by public buses and jeepneys. Walking between the two terminals takes fifteen minutes, with a direct view of the apron around Gates 1 and 2 at Terminal 1.

Wait
Unlike many of its Asian counterparts, NAIA has relatively few amenities or things to see. However, with the renovations at Terminal 1 and the opening of Terminal 3, this is starting to change.

There are two memorials in honor of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Junior, the opposition politician for whom the airport is named: There is a viewing gallery at the departures level of Terminal 3, which overlooks the baggage claim area. Entrance is free.
 * On the departures ramp of Terminal 1 is the assassination site memorial, a piece of tarmac removed from the terminal apron where he fell after being shot dead on his arrival at this airport from exile in the US in 1983.
 * In the check-in hall of Terminal 3 is a bust of Benigno Aquino, Jr., made by sculptor Rosalio Arcilla, Jr.

For children, Terminals 1, 3 and 4 have free NAIA Kiddie Traveler's Lounges at the pre-departure areas, complete with a play area, toys and games, a diaper (nappy) changing room and infant feeding station, and cartoons showing on TV. Terminal 3 has two lounges, each at the domestic and international pre-departure areas. The lounge is open daily 7AM-10PM at Terminal 1 and 2AM-8PM at Terminal 4. Children up to the age of 14 may use the lounge at Terminal 1, while children up to the age of 7 may use the lounge at Terminal 4.

In the pre-departure areas, all four terminals have televisions installed which broadcast news in Terminals 1-3 and local television in Terminal 4.

Lounges
VIP lounges are available for business and first class passengers, and for holders of certain credit cards. Compared to lounges at other Asian airports though, NAIA lounges are considered to be sub-par. Most of these lounges are in Terminal 1. Japan Airlines and Thai Airways International maintain their own lounges at Terminal 1, while Philippine Airlines maintains two Mabuhay Lounges at Terminal 2. At Terminal 3, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines maintain their own lounges.



Eat and drink
Dining options at NAIA are not as plentiful as in other airports, but there are options at all four terminals. Terminal 3 in particular is notable for having a foodcourt above the check-in area on the fourth floor which is also open to the public. Some of the more notable dining options at the airport include:



None of the restaurants in the airport are certified Halal (or kosher), and dining facilities for observing Muslim and Jewish travelers in general are rather limited.

Buy
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 have outlets of Duty Free Philippines (DFP), the Philippines' state-owned duty free retailer. DFP outlets are found at both the pre-departure and arrival levels of each terminal, and Terminal 1 has a DFP outlet in the Greeters' Area.

The duty free stores only have full-sized bottles of foreign alcohol. However, if you just want a smaller flask or airline sized bottle, most of the shops and even some restaurants in the airport sell those.

Aside from DFP outlets, there are also other retailers in the airport, but some of the more notable ones include the following:

While most stores at the airport (except at the domestic wings of Terminals 2 and 3, and at Terminal 4) accept pesos and US dollars, many stores do not accept credit cards. There are ATMs at all four terminals, but all are located prior to entering the pre-departure area.

Stay safe
Avoid any people asking to carry your luggage for you, especially if someone is picking you up by car at Terminal 1. There are official, uniformed porters available for a fee of ; US dollars are accepted, but at the slightly more unfavorable rate of US$1= (as of 2020).

Beware of the hold-departure order scam by corrupt immigration officers; almost all cases of this corruption scheme happen at NAIA. Foreigners are rarely singled out, but returning Filipinos from overseas must be wary.

The airport has its history of widely-reported scams, most notably the bullet-planting (tanim-bala) scam, which also called international attention as an American citizen became entangled in that scam. The scam has since subsided, but some passengers remain vigilant, so they wrap their luggage upon entry to avoid possible trouble.

Internet
All four terminals have free, unlimited Wi-Fi access on the GlobeFreeWiFi@NAIA network, provided by Globe Telecom, although coverage can be spotty at times. There are standalone computer terminals at Terminals 1 and 2 with access to the Internet, as well as laptop desks at Terminal 2 beside the computer terminals.

Mail
Two of the NAIA terminals have post offices. At Terminal 1, the post office is located on the west wing of the arrivals lobby, while at Terminal 2, the post office is located beside the Pass Control Office in the arrivals level of the South Wing. Both post offices are open on weekdays from 8AM-5PM. Mailboxes are located at the West Transit Lounge (after immigration) at Terminal 1, and at the post office in Terminal 2. Mail is picked up at 10:30AM daily on weekdays.

Stamps are available for purchase at the following stores:


 * Terminal 1: All stores between Gates 3-10
 * Terminal 2: Stores around Gate S1 (South Wing), Store in front of the Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Class check-in counter (North Wing)

These stores are also authorized to bring mail to the post office for delivery. During weekends, these stores will hold mail until the post office reopens on Monday. At Terminal 1, this service is provided by the Christian Ventures bookstore at the East Satellite (gates 2-7).

Worship
NAIA has a number of worship facilities. All four terminals have Christian chapels, while Terminals 1, 2 and 3 also have Muslim prayer rooms. Washrooms are fitted with foot basins and Qiblah directions are mentioned in the prayer rooms. There are two Roman Catholic churches near the airport which are open to the public:

Baggage storage
Terminals 2 and 3 have left luggage facilities. At Terminal 2, this service is provided by Philippine Airlines (/piece), while at Terminal 3, this service is provided by Luggage&More (/piece for three hours, /piece per day).

While not a left luggage facility as such, bags may also be left at the Interline Baggage Section of Terminal 1, to the side of the baggage claim area (/piece).

Smoking
All airport buildings, with a few exceptions, are no smoking areas, as is much of the outdoor space around them. Desperate smokers can go outside, but you may have to cross a road to reach an area where smoking is allowed.

There are no free smoking lounges but some of the terminal restaurants have areas where customers may smoke.
 * Terminal 3
 * ground side: Let's Chow in the 4th floor food court (toward the bridge to the hotel) has a smoking lounge, and decent food and prices.
 * air side: places near gates 119 and 134.

Sleep
While Terminal 3 has a lounge that provides sleeping facilities, Terminal 1 is also fitted with day rooms ( per 24 hours) for the use of passengers with long connections, located at the arrivals level beside Gate 16. Each room has a bed and a small table, although bathrooms are shared. Go to the Transfer Desk to reserve and pay for a day room.

Aside from the day rooms, there are also hotels around the airport complex:



All five hotels around the airport perimeter have free shuttle service to bring guests to and from all four NAIA terminals. There are also other hotels in Pasay and Parañaque that are further away from the airport complex, but are still close, mostly in the area around SM Mall of Asia and Entertainment City Manila, the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue, and along Roxas Boulevard.

Nearby
Beside Terminal 3 is Villamor Airbase, the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force. While the base is generally off-limits to civilians (except dependants of Air Force personnel), two of its facilities are open to the public:

Across from Villamor Airbase and opposite Terminal 3 is Newport City, a mixed-use development built on land that used to belong to the base. While a significant part of the development is residential, it is better known as the home of Resorts World Manila, the Philippines' first casino-resort. Aside from a casino, Resorts World Manila also has a mall, a cinema, a performing arts theater and a popular nightclub.

Other areas close to the airport include Bay City in Pasay (home of the SM Mall of Asia) and Entertainment City Manila in Parañaque, built on land reclaimed from Manila Bay. Makati is also a reasonable distance from the airport, as are Taguig and the southern half of Manila, including Intramuros.