NAIA,
decoded
NAIA stopped being a punchline in 2024 when a San Miguel-led consortium took it over: 51.7 million passengers in year one, record on-time performance, working air conditioning, biometric e-gates and a 2,000-seat food hall at Terminal 3. The price was the terminal fee rising to ₱950 international and ₱390 domestic in September 2025. What has not been fixed: the approach roads, immigration queues for foreign arrivals at peak, and the fact that terminal transfers run on public roads. Confirm your terminal on the airline app within 48 hours — assignments have moved three times in eighteen months.
NAIA terminals, August 2026
This map keeps moving as carriers migrate through 2027. Treat it as a starting point and confirm on your airline's app within 48 hours of flying.
| Terminal | Who flies from it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | PAL international, AirAsia international, plus legacy foreign carriers not yet migrated (Emirates, Qatar, Korean Air) | Arrivals extension opened February 2026 |
| Terminal 2 | Domestic: PAL and PAL Express, AirAsia domestic, Royal Air, Sunlight | The least-improved terminal |
| Terminal 3 | Cebu Pacific (all operations) plus most foreign carriers — Singapore, Cathay, ANA, Delta, KLM, EVA, JAL, Air China, Vietnam Airlines | Tambayan Food Hall, ~2,000 seats. Runway Manila footbridge to Newport |
| Terminal 4 | Not in passenger use | Demolished November 2024; replacement slipping past mid-2026 |
There is no airside connection between terminals. The free NNIC shuttle runs hourly and requires an onward ticket; the UBE Loop is ₱50 and runs 4am–8pm; after 8pm it is Grab only. Budget three to five hours for a self-connection on separate tickets.
NAIA to the city, every option priced
| Option | Price | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab | Makati ₱250–450 · BGC ₱300–550 · Malate ₱200–350 · QC ₱400–700 | Everyone, almost always | WORTH IT |
| Yellow airport taxi | ₱75 flag then meter — Makati ₱250–400 | Odd hours when Grab surges. Insist on the meter | DEPENDS |
| Coupon taxi (counters inside) | Flat ₱450–800 | Nervous first arrivals — no meter argument possible | DEPENDS |
| UBE Express P2P bus | ₱150 to PITX, Pasay or Robinsons Manila | Budget travellers and provincial bus connections | WORTH IT |
| Moto-taxi (Angkas, JoyRide) | ₱100–250 to Makati | Solo, one backpack, in a hurry. Book from departures level | DEPENDS |
| Hotel car | ₱1,500–3,500 | Families and late first arrivals | DEPENDS |
| Walk to Newport | Free | Anyone at Terminal 3 with a Newport hotel | WORTH IT |
| White metered taxi | ₱45 flag | Cheapest if metered — but meter refusal at NAIA is common | SKIP |
The rule that prevents almost every airport problem: the driver you choose, not the one who chooses you. Decline offers inside the arrivals hall, walk to the designated bay, verify the plate against the app.
What you actually need
Register at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours of your flight. It is free. Paid lookalike sites exist and charge for nothing. Departing foreign tourists do not need one.
etravel.gov.ph₱390 domestic. Raised on 14 September 2025, the first increase in around twenty years. Normally already collected inside your ticket price — check before queueing at a payment counter.
It applies to Filipino citizens, residents and foreigners who have stayed over a year. Short-stay foreign tourists are exempt, whatever a counter tells you.
Airlines check for proof of onward travel at check-in for the Philippines and turn people away. Have a flight out booked before you fly in.
Biometric gates process Filipinos in 15–20 seconds and handle departures for everyone. Arriving foreign nationals still use manned counters — 30 to 60+ minutes at peak banks.
Arrival essentials
NAIA FAQ
Which terminal is my flight at NAIA?
Terminal 3 for Cebu Pacific and most foreign carriers, Terminal 1 for PAL international and the legacy carriers that have not yet migrated, Terminal 2 for domestic PAL and AirAsia. Terminal 4 is closed. Assignments have changed three times in eighteen months, so confirm on the airline app within 48 hours of flying.
How much is the terminal fee at Manila airport?
₱950 for international departures and ₱390 for domestic, raised on 14 September 2025. It is normally already included in your ticket — most travellers never pay it separately. The ₱1,620 travel tax is different and does not apply to short-stay foreign tourists.
Do I need an eTravel QR code for the Philippines?
Yes for all arrivals, registered free at etravel.gov.ph within 72 hours of your flight. Departing foreign tourists do not need one. Several paid lookalike sites charge for the same free registration — use the .gov.ph address.
How long does immigration take at NAIA?
Thirty minutes off-peak and 60 minutes or more when several wide-bodies land together. Filipinos clear biometric e-gates in 15–20 seconds; arriving foreign nationals still use manned counters. Foreign e-gate access on arrival has been promised for later in 2026 but is not live.
Is Manila airport safe and comfortable now?
Much better than its reputation. Since the 2024 handover to a San Miguel-led consortium there is working air conditioning, functioning toilets, fast wifi, a 2,000-seat food hall at Terminal 3, and record on-time performance. The remaining complaints are the approach roads, Terminal 2, and construction.
How do I get from NAIA to Makati?
Grab, for ₱250–450 and 25–60 minutes depending on the hour. Use the designated bay — at Terminal 3 the transport hub is to the right of arrivals — and verify the plate. Yellow metered airport taxis are a reasonable fallback at odd hours; decline anyone who approaches you inside the hall.