NAIA terminal fees lowest in South East Asia

Despite an increase in terminal fees, service charges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) remain lowest in Southeast Asia, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Starting Sept. 14, departing international passengers at NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 will pay P950 (from P550), while domestic travelers will pay P390 (from P200).

The fee adjustments, to be implemented by the New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC), will be the first in 20 years. It covers the cost of airport renovation, maintenance and security, according to MIAA general manager Eric Ines.

In Singapore, Ines said, passengers pay about P2,685, followed by P1,710 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; P1,530 in Hanoi, Vietnam; P1,240 in Bangkok, Thailand and P1,135 at Japan’s Haneda Airport.

In the Philippines, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport collects about P1,030, while Davao International Airport, Iloilo International Airport and Kalibo International Airport collect P900 in terminal fees, Ines noted.

Exempted from paying terminal fees are overseas Filipino workers, religious pilgrims joining Hajj and Umrah as well as athletes competing in international events, he said.

Former Transport Secretary Vince Dizon earlier defended the fee increase, as it was part of the privatization agreement.

Critics said the privatization led to higher costs for passengers. They called on President Marcos to suspend the contract and roll back the fees.

Adjustments coincided with the first anniversary of the NNIC’s takeover of airport operations on Sept. 14, 2024.

The new fees were approved by the Department of Transportation and the Cabinet after a review by the Asian Development Bank.