Manila Ninoy Aquino Intl Airport (MNL) Flights & Information

Located in between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque – and just over four miles south of the capital, Manila – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is the busiest airport in the Philippines serving 94 destinations across 27 countries. The hub is named in honor of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a former senator who was assassinated at the airport in 1983 (an event that triggered the People Power Revolution and ultimately resulted in the election of Aquino’s widow as president). Because the official name is a bit of a mouthful, you’ll also hear it referred to as NAIA or Manila Airport.

An unfortunate reputation

NAIA is home to the national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines. It’s the main gateway to the island nation for most visitors and indeed, it’s always been my first port of call on travels there (usually on a non-stop flight from Singapore). Despite this privileged status, the airport unfortunately has a poor reputation and is currently going through a period of considerable change in an attempt to prevent permanent closure.

Airline review and ratings consultancy Skytrax criticizes the airport for its congestion, excessive queues at immigration and security, and limited facilities. It’s consistently ranked as one of the worst airports in the world for service – a problem caused by the fact that the airport long ago exceeded its maximum capacity of 35 million passengers, and compounded by the fact that it lacks automated machines for passport and boarding pass checks.

For me, the worst parts about the airport are the incessant document checks and the discomfort caused by a lack of air-conditioning and public seating. I advise arriving at least four hours ahead of your flight to allow time for lengthy queues, and to build extra time into your itinerary when transiting through NAIA. Slightly shorter queues exist for senior citizens, pregnant women, families with small children and disabled passengers.

An uncertain future

During her tenure, former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo implemented plans to develop Clark International Airport (CRK) in nearby Pampanga with the goal of replacing NAIA as the country’s premier airport. This hasn’t yet happened. In September 2024 the government handed over the airport’s management to a private corporation in an attempt to alleviate its woes. The 15-year contract aims to rehabilitate aging infrastructure and increase capacity to 62 million passengers.

Construction is also underway at two other airports in the Greater Manila Area, which may help to reduce congestion at NAIA. Only time will tell how effective these measures will be.

Current airport layout

As it stands, NAIA consists of four unconnected passenger terminals. Terminal 1 is the second-oldest, with a reputation as the most inefficient and ill-equipped of those frequented by international passengers. It is reserved exclusively for international flights, including those offered by Philippine Airlines and Royal Air Philippines.

Terminal 2 is exclusively for domestic flights by national airlines like Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, Philippines AirAsia and Royal Air Philippines. The new management contract includes plans to expand the terminal and connect it to Terminal 1 via a covered walkway. Once the expansion is complete, Terminal 2 will supersede the original airport building (Terminal 4), which will close permanently. Currently Terminal 4 serves domestic flights by regional turboprop aircraft.

The newest, largest and most pleasant terminal to visit is Terminal 3. Many of the airport’s foreign-based airlines have decamped here from Terminal 1 in recent years including Cathay Pacific, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines and KLM. The terminal is connected via an indoor footbridge to Newport City, a mixed-use development offering possibilities for an extended layover including accommodation, a mall, a movie theater and a playhouse.

Inter-terminal transportation

Transiting between terminals is frankly, a bit of a nightmare, thanks to the sporadic airport shuttle service. It runs between all four terminals but is only available to passengers with a direct connection. If you aren’t booked on a through ticket, expect to pay for a taxi between airport buildings. If you do rely on the shuttle, board as soon as possible because queues are considerable and the timetable unreliable.

If you have a connecting flight with both legs operated by Philippine Airlines or one of their codeshare partners, you’re in luck. You can avoid the airport shuttle and hop on the dedicated airline shuttle running between Terminals 1, 2 and 3 instead.

Dining, retail and other services

NAIA is not known for its dining and shopping opportunities; in most terminals, outlets are severely limited. Terminal 3 offers a much wider selection, including a Food Hall on the fourth floor where one can choose from a range of Filipino, Asian and international fast food options. My personal favorites include Ramen Nagi for Japanese noodle bowls and Mary Grace for European-style pasta and sandwiches.

Previously, connecting to the Wi-Fi at NAIA was problematic for international visitors, mainly because it required a one-time password to be sent to a local SIM. However, this changed in the first half of 2024, making it possible to get two hours of free Wi-Fi on any internet-enabled device. That’s not to say that the connection is always reliable, or that the speed is anything to write home about.

Lounges at NAIA

One way to get around the problem of inadequate internet and insufficient seating in NAIA’s public areas is to pay for lounge access. There are several to choose from including Marhaba Lounge, PAGSS Lounge and A-Lounge (all in Terminals 1 and 3) and The Wings Transit Lounge (Terminal 3). Each offers quiet seating areas, internet and complimentary food and drink, although the quality of the latter is generally mediocre.

A superior experience awaits premium passengers at the airport’s dedicated airline lounges, including ones operated by Philippine Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. OFW Lounges for Overseas Filipino Workers are also available in Terminals 1 and 3.

Traveling to and from the airport

There is no easy form of public transportation to Manila city center. Options include an indirect rail service, a complicated and overcrowded bus network or the Jeepneys – brightly painted public utility vehicles that, while great for soaking up local culture, are terrible for those with anything more than hand luggage.

Private transfers

For me, by far the least stressful way to travel within the Metro Manila area is by private transfer. Many companies offer this service with vehicles ranging from private sedans for couples and families to mini buses for larger groups. Examples include Suntransfers and Klook. Expect up-front rates that probably aren’t as expensive as you might think, and an ability to avoid the queues by booking and paying in advance.

Taxis

There are three kinds of taxi to choose from. Coupon Taxis travel to a list of set destinations for a fixed rate. Yellow airport taxis and regular white taxis both take you wherever you want to go at a metered rate. This is meant to be standardized but reports of exploitation abound. All taxis depart from the Arrivals curbside outside each terminal and as always, queues are to be expected.

Grab rideshare

When I don’t use a private transfer service, I generally prefer using rideshare company Grab to the taxis simply because prices are disclosed upfront, fares remain fixed even if you get stuck in the notorious Manila traffic, and you can book in advance to avoid queuing. The downside is that you need an internet connection to operate the app, which isn’t always guaranteed if you’re relying on airport Wi-Fi.

UBE Express bus

If you have to use the bus, the premium point-to-point shuttle service offered by the UBE Express is by far the best option. The service operates along a fixed route connecting Terminal 3 with seven stops in the Manila Metro area including the Robinsons Sta. Rosa mall in Laguna, Araneta City in Cubao, the Victory Liner bus station in Pasay and the PITX transit terminal in Parañaque.

Car rental

Car rental desks are available in the main Arrivals halls of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 with companies including trusted global names such as Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty. If you don’t feel confident driving on Manila’s congested and often frenetic roads, however, looking for a company that offers chauffeured rentals is a good idea.

Parking at NAIA

If you’re planning on driving to NAIA, be aware that parking is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and fills up quickly. Despite the fact that there are three car parks for Terminal 1, two for Terminal 2, three for Terminal 3 and one for Terminal 4, there are insufficient spaces at all of them and finding a spot can be especially difficult on weekends and holidays.

The multilevel car park at Terminal 3 is the only one connected to the airport. There’s also the option to use the airport’s Park N’ Fly service which offers off-site parking and shuttle transfers to all terminals. If you’re a NAIA veteran, be aware that prices have recently increased exponentially under the new management in an attempt to raise funds for the much-needed airport improvements.