NAIA international passenger traffic rises 2.6%

International passenger traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) increased by 2.6% year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2026, supported by resilient travel demand and additional international flight services.

New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) reported that international passenger volume reached 19.93 million from Jan. 1 to Oct. 22, up by 507,772 from the 19.42 million recorded during the same period last year.

NNIC Chief Operating Officer Jong Hoon “John” Kim said international travel continued to expand despite disruptions to global aviation linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

Traffic also sustained its growth in October, with 1.39 million international passengers recorded in the first 22 days of the month, a 2.05% increase from the same period in 2025.

International travelers accounted for 48.1% of NAIA’s total passenger traffic, up from 46.6% a year earlier. Domestic passenger volume, however, fell by 3.4% to 21.49 million.

The growth in international travel coincides with airlines resuming existing routes and planning additional services to and from Manila.

Air France has resumed its services to the Philippines, while Philippine Airlines is scheduled to launch nonstop flights to Chicago in November and to Delhi and Mumbai in December, subject to regulatory approval for the Indian routes.

Delta Air Lines is also scheduled to introduce nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Manila in March 2027, initially operating three times weekly before increasing to daily service in June.

Indian carrier IndiGo is likewise expected to introduce Manila services, with proposed flights connecting the Philippines to India.

Meanwhile, NNIC continues to upgrade airport facilities, including check-in counters at Terminal 3, to improve passenger flow and operational efficiency as international travel demand grows. TRACY CABRERA