NNIC’s Ramon Ang: 50% Better Passenger Experience Expected at NAIA This Holiday Season

Travelers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) can look forward to a significantly improved experience this Christmas season, with New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) Chairman Ramon Ang promising a 50% enhancement in passenger convenience compared to last year.

Early Achievements of NNIC

NNIC, led by San Miguel Corporation, assumed management of NAIA on September 14, 2024, and has since initiated numerous upgrades as part of its long-term rehabilitation and modernization plan.

Key early improvements include:

• Terminal Renovations: Restoration work at Terminal 4 began on November 6, addressing its aging infrastructure.
• Enhanced Boarding Facilities: Six passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) for wide-body aircraft have been reopened, and two PBBs at Terminal 3 have been converted into swing gates to accommodate both domestic and international flights.
• Parking and Traffic Flow: About 1,800 parking slots have been freed, and curbside expansions are underway across all terminals to ease congestion. For instance, Terminal 1’s curbside will expand from three to eight lanes.

Technology and Passenger Convenience

• Biometric Systems: The Bureau of Immigration’s “fly-to-gate” biometric passenger processing system is being implemented.
• Faster Internet: Partnerships with PLDT/Smart and Converge have improved internet speeds to 50-60 Mbps on average, peaking at 115 Mbps, with free three-hour access.
• New Power Systems: Collaborations with Meralco and Mserv have led to the installation of a dedicated substation and a 6.12 MW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system for reliable electrical distribution and backup.

Future Developments

Ang highlighted ongoing preparations for major infrastructure projects, including reassigning terminal functions to optimize operations. Terminal 3, for example, will focus on international flights starting in early 2025.

NNIC is also introducing a new explosive detection system in early 2025 to replace outdated equipment and further enhance security measures.

NAIA’s Growing Demand

Ang noted that NAIA’s current annual passenger capacity of 35 million has long been exceeded, with 2024 expected to surpass 50 million passengers. The growing demand has stressed facilities and equipment, necessitating immediate upgrades.

Financial Commitments

NNIC has already made a ₱30 billion upfront payment to the government as part of its concession agreement, along with regular annuity payments of ₱1.58 billion for the September 2024 to June 2025 period. An additional ₱420 million has been allocated for employee transition, including signing bonuses for Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and LSERV personnel.

“Although it has only been two months since we took over NAIA, we are optimistic about the progress made and the future improvements in store,” Ang concluded.