NNIC’s Ramon Ang: 50% improvement in passenger experience seen during holidays

The air traveling public should expect significant improvements in passenger experience at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after its new private operator implemented upgrades and enhancements two months after it took over the operations of the country’s premier gateway.

At a press briefing in Pasig City on Friday, San Miguel-led New NAIA Infra Corp. chairman Ramon Ang said that the company has undertaken airside enhancements, landside developments, and infrastructure upgrades as part of the initial phase of NNIC’s multi-year rehabilitation and modernization plan since it began operating NAIA on September 14, 2024.

With the improvements, Ang said that “this Christmas season 2024, there will be at least 50% improvement from last year.”

“Kasi alam na namin pakiusapan ung mga airline na ‘wag magsabay-sabay ng departures. Pinakiusapan din namin sila to observe on-time departure so with that, I believe masaya na ‘yung mga kababayan natin ngayong December,” he said.

[We've talked to the airlines to avoid departures at the same time. We also asked them to observe on-time departures so with that, I believe the riding public will be happy this December.]

Among the improvements implemented so far by the NNIC include the renovation of NAIA Terminal 4 —the oldest passenger terminal— which began on November 6.

The new NAIA operator has also increased the number of passenger boarding bridges (PBBs) in operation, with six designed for wide-body aircraft reopened.

Two existing PBBs at Terminal 3 have been converted into “swing gates” to accommodate both domestic and international flights.

Procurement of a new explosive detection system (EDS) was completed in June 2024, before NNIC’s official takeover.

Installation is slated for the first quarter of 2025, replacing the current 20-year-old system.

Biometric passenger processing system

NNIC also announced that the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) implementation of a “fly-to-gate” biometric passenger processing system is underway.

Internet connectivity has been significantly improved at NAIA, it said.

Through partnerships with PLDT/Smart and Converge, passengers are now enjoying 50-60 Mbps average speeds, with up to 115 Mbps peak speeds. Free use has been extended to three hours, with no personal information required.

For “landside” improvements, NNIC said it has “freed up” approximately 1,800 parking slots, significantly improving traffic flow within the airport, which accommodates about 140,000 passengers daily.

Moreover, road network improvements are ongoing, including the expansion of roads and the addition of new toll exits from the NAIA Expressway to improve accessibility.

Likewise, curbside enhancements are currently being implemented to ease congestion and improve the convenience of passengers.

NNIC has designated clear zones for pick-up, drop-off, and taxis, and is expanding the arrival curbsides across terminals to better accommodate traffic.

Terminal 1’s curbside will be widened from 3 to 8 lanes, Terminal 2 from 4 to 8 lanes, and Terminal 3 from 8 to 12 lanes.

In July, NNIC also completed construction of, and opened, the new Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) lounge at Terminal 3. The lounge provides ample seating, free Wi-Fi, food and drinks.

To ensure a reliable power supply and improve power quality throughout the airport, NNIC has undertaken two major initiatives.

It has partnered with Meralco to install a 115Kv dedicated substation for NAIA to enhance the airport's electrical distribution system and support its modernization.

To further improve power reliability, NNIC partnered with Mserv to install a 6.12 MW uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system for Terminal 3.

This will provide backup power to essential systems, including airfield lighting.

NNIC is also working with airline stakeholders to implement new terminal assignments in the first quarter of 2025 to reduce congestion in high-traffic terminals particularly Terminal 3 and utilize it for its original purpose — international operations.

The NAIA operator said this will help improve operational efficiency and optimize runway utilization, leading to fewer delays and better on-time performance for the airlines.

“NAIA has long been operating way beyond its intended capacity of 35 million passengers per year. It has been serving around 45 million per year, and this year, we are anticipating reaching more than 50 million. Over the years, this has taken a huge toll on the already aging facilities and equipment at NAIA, leading to inevitable breakdowns and inconvenience for passengers,” Ang said.

“That’s why right now our emphasis is on ensuring that all facilities and equipment work reliably. At the same time, we’re working to address congestion and improve operational efficiencies, while laying the groundwork for major construction works,” he said.

NNIC has made an upfront payment of P30 billion to the government as part of the concession agreement.

In addition, the company has commenced regular annuity payments, with P1.58 billion paid for the period from September 2024 to June 30, 2025.

NNIC has also invested P420 million to ensure a smooth transition for employees, including signing bonuses for MIAA and LSERV personnel.

“These financial commitments demonstrate NNIC's dedication to the long-term success of NAIA and its commitment to supporting both the government and our employees,” Ang said.

“It has only been two months since we assumed management of NAIA. It has been a very busy transition period, and as expected, we’ve encountered our fair share of challenges. Still, we’re optimistic about the progress we’ve made and the upcoming improvements we’re working on,” he added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News