The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals has recorded some 2,979.273 arrivals and departure for international and domestic travellers for the month of November from 1 to 29, 2022 alone and the ffigures are expected to double this month of December, as more Filipinos around the globe including foreign tourists will start to arrive for the Christmas holidays as travel restrictions also ease.
The Media Affairs Division (MAD) of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that from November 1 to 29, 2022, it recorded a total of 619,084 arrivals and 579,177 departures for international while domestic passenger arrivals were 907,824 and 873,248 departures.
MAD records show that last November 29 alone, there were 106,642 travellers arriving and departing NAIA terminals, some of whom were returning Overseas Workers, balikbayan and foreign tourists who spent All Saints’ Day in the country.
Records also show that on the same day, the NAIA terminal 1 has recorded about 13, 653 international arrivals and departures; NAIA terminal2, 28,329 international and domestic arrivals and departure; NAIA terminal 3 has recorded 49, 021 international and domestic arrivals and departures while NAIA terminal 4 recorded 15, 659 international and domestic.
Last Tuesday, hundreds of Filipino Overseas and foreign tourists were seen departing at NAIA terminal 3 through Middle East countries as their connecting flights for Europe.
A security guard at the domestic departure terminal 3 said: “hay salamat, natapos din ang mahigit 14,000 na pasahero”.
Local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB) and AirAsia operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are all set to accommodate thousands of incoming local and foreign travellers as they continue boosting their domestic and international routes in response to the high demand, as travel protocols ease and Christmas travel season begins.
The local carriers are doubling their efforts to accommodate incoming locals like returning overseas Filipino workers and foreign visitors who are expected to arrive starting this month until the first part of January 2023.
“Our airport PAL teams will be on full manning to handle the expected arrivals this Christmas season”, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said.
“We know that many are raring to travel again to their favourite local and foreign destinations, so we are very excited to mount additional flights as we approach the holiday season,” CEB chief commercial officer Xander Lao said recently.
AirAsia Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla. said: “The exponential growth in the holiday demand this year is expected, especially given the fact that travel restrictions today are way more relaxed compared to the previous years.”
Local air carriers are expecting thousands of Filipinos with their families to arrive and spend Christmas with their loved ones while foreign visitors are also expected in large numbers to visit the country’s tourist destinations.
At NAIA terminal 1, thousands of departing passengers are lining up at the final security check as Philippine Airlines flights to and from the United States, Canada, the Middle East and Bali (Denpasar) will transfer to NAIA terminal 1 from terminal 2 beginning today December 1, 2022.
The said transfer will largely address passenger congestion at NAIA terminal 2 and 4 and is timely as NAIA expects a surge in passenger volume in the coming weeks. (JERRY S. TAN)
