Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) serves as the Philippines’ main international gateway, handling the bulk of flights in and out of the capital. It’s one of the more chaotic airports in Asia, though things have improved somewhat in recent years. Your experience can vary widely from relatively easy to time-consuming and stressful, depending on which terminal you’re using and whether you need to switch between them. That said, many thousands of people manage to get through this airport daily unscathed, so with a little information you’ll be well placed to do the same.
Layout of the airport
NAIA has four terminals, ranging from tiny and old-school to big and modern. There are shuttle buses if you need to get between them, but for the most part, walking isn’t an option and there aren’t any trains either. Knowing your terminal is half the battle.
Get to know the NAIA terminals
Terminal 1 handles all Philippine Airlines international flights plus several Asian and Middle Eastern carriers. You’ll find various international airlines here, though specific carrier assignments can vary. It’s an older building but reasonably straightforward to navigate, though the roadway to departures gets particularly clogged with traffic. I once had to abandon my taxi and walk the last half of the way up the ramp.
Terminal 2 is the domestic hub where you won’t find any international flights. Philippine Airlines domestic flights operate here alongside Philippines AirAsia domestic. During the Terminal 4 renovation period, boutique carriers like AirSWIFT and Sunlight Air have also been temporarily shifted here.
Terminal 3 is the newest and most spacious terminal with a departure experience on par with other modern Asian airports. If you’re departing long-haul from Manila but not on Philippine Airlines, you’ll likely use this terminal. Airlines here include:
Cebu Pacific (domestic and international)
Cathay Pacific
KLM, United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Qantas
Terminal 4 is the oldest and smallest terminal, originally the first building at the airport. It typically houses regional airlines doing domestic flights like AirSWIFT and Sunlight Air. However, Terminal 4 is currently undergoing renovation with operations temporarily shifted to Terminal 2. The rebuilt Terminal 4 is expected to open in the coming years, which will trigger further terminal reshuffles.
Where you can fly from Manila
Manila is well-connected to much of the world, though direct flights to the Americas are a bit limited. Philippine Airlines flies from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, while United offers a service from San Francisco operating from Terminal 3. There’s also a unique United flight to Guam on a narrow-body 737-800, which is an interesting way to cross the Pacific if you have the time. United has announced plans to replace this fleet with new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in the coming years.
Elsewhere, Manila has a ton of service on Gulf carriers to hubs like Dubai and Doha. Asia is, predictably, very well-served with Philippine Airlines operating daily flights to major capitals including Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, and Beijing. And since the Philippines is a nation of islands, you can get from MNL to just about anywhere you need to go in-country.
What to expect at MNL
The first thing to know about NAIA is that it has four terminals that aren’t well-connected to each other, and they’re not all created equal. There’s also a great deal of traffic in and around the airport, including the approach to departures areas, so leave plenty of time.
Transfers between terminals can be time-consuming due to traffic. It can be frustrating. Once inside your departure terminal though, it’s mostly a straightforward process.
Getting to and from MNL
Most people take a taxi of some kind to and from NAIA, but be careful of taxi scams and exorbitant fares. Your best bet is a “coupon taxi,” where staff outside arrivals hand you a coupon with a fixed price to your destination (no haggling over fares). Airport taxis are another solid option. They’re more expensive than standard Manila city taxis but tend to be hassle-free. Yellow airport taxis have a flag-down rate of P70, compared to regular white city taxis at P40.
Tip: If you prefer using an app, download Grab and set up a profile before you arrive. It’s the go-to app for ride-hailing in the Philippines, and it’s what I always use to get a ride from the airport. Uber isn’t available here after Grab acquired their Southeast Asia operations.
Public transport
Public transport is an option, but it’s usually more complicated than just grabbing a taxi. There are nearby LRT and MRT train stations, but you’ll need to take a bus to reach them. The premium UBE Express bus service operates routes from NAIA terminals to Victory Liner Pasay, which serves as a transfer point for nearby MRT and LRT stations. For longer distances, Genesis Transport operates premium Point-to-Point buses directly from Terminal 3 to destinations like Clark International Airport and Baguio City. Just keep in mind that the famous “jeepneys,” while a classic Filipino experience, typically don’t operate directly at the airport terminals.
Transferring between terminals
Getting between terminals is one of the biggest headaches at NAIA, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Just be aware it could take up to a couple of hours, so don’t book any tight connections that involve switching terminals.
You have three options to move between terminals: the free airport shuttle bus, the premium UBE Express bus (paid), or a taxi (I’d recommend Grab). Many people opt for Grab because of the unpredictability of the buses. My rule of thumb is simple: if I have plenty of time, I’ll take the free bus. If I’m pressed for time, I use Grab. The premium bus doesn’t offer enough advantage to justify paying for it.
Tip: The one piece of good news is for travelers transferring between Philippine Airlines domestic and international flights (Terminals 1 and 2). The airline has its own dedicated shuttle bus, which is generally reliable because they really don’t want you to miss your connection.
Where is it convenient to go?
Metro Manila is a sprawling urban area of around 15 million people, and the airport is smack in the middle of it. It’s actually very convenient to the parts of central Manila that visitors typically want to see. The business district of Makati is barely a 15-minute drive away in light traffic and rarely more than 25 minutes even when it’s busy.
What to do during a layover
Given how close NAIA is to central Manila, if you have a layover of more than a few hours, it’s a great option to nip over to Makati for a bite to eat and a feel for the city. The Philippine government even offers an official “layover tour” program featuring a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour that covers the Makati district and its lifestyle hubs. Just be sure to account for potential traffic on your way back.
Wi-Fi
You can get three hours of free Wi-Fi per day at Manila Airport, and the good news is you no longer need a local phone number to access it. Passengers can enjoy the extended Wi-Fi access without having to provide personal information. If it were me and I didn’t have a good data roaming plan, I’d still consider getting an eSIM with data for the Philippines before landing for uninterrupted connectivity beyond the airport.
Alternatives to MNL
An interesting alternative to MNL is Clark International Airport (CRK), a compact and manageable airport about 60 miles north of the city with a beautiful new terminal. Flying out of Clark is an easy experience. The only downside is the distance from central Manila, the drive takes about an hour and a half in good conditions but could be much longer. Still, considering how easy it is to fly from Clark, and that fares are often cheaper, it can be a great option.
Upgrades on the way?
Operations and maintenance of NAIA were recently transferred to New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC), with MIAA now acting as regulator. This private consortium has already begun implementing improvements including the extended Wi-Fi service and is expected to bring numerous additional upgrades and refurbishments to make the airport more user-friendly and increase capacity. We’re hopeful it all comes true.
New Manila International Airport
There is also a brand new airport under construction in Bulakan, Bulacan, approximately 22 miles north of the city, which promises to bring a much-needed modern airport experience to Manila. Land development and ground improvement works are well underway, with terminal building construction scheduled to begin soon. It’s expected that NAIA will remain open to help decrease congestion once the new airport is completed in the coming years. The Department of Transportation has awarded a long-term concession to the private consortium operating NAIA, ensuring its continued operation well beyond the planned opening of the New Manila International Airport.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
