Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Ninoy Aquino International Airport , commonly called NAIA, is the airport serving Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and its surrounding metropolitan area. Located eight kilometers (5 mi) south of Manila in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, it is the international gateway for most visitors entering the Philippines and all major airlines in the Philippines have their main base of operations here. Understand What is now Ninoy Aquino International Airport started as (and remains) a military base. Built in the 1930s by the Americans as the military-only Nichols Field, civilian operations were moved here from Manila's former airport, Nielsen Field (which today is part of downtown Makati), in 1948. Originally called Manila International Airport, it was renamed in honor of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. in 1987, four years after he was assassinated on the airport's runway apron after returning from self-imposed exile in the United States. The airport's three main terminals became operational within a span of thirty years: Terminal 1 was opened in 1981, Terminal 2 in 1998, and Terminal 3 in 2008. Currently, NAIA is Southeast Asia's fifth-busiest airport, after the airports in Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. However, airport expansion has not caught up with passenger growth and the airport as a whole is set to reach capacity within the next 5-10 years: Terminals 1 and 2 are already operating beyond capacity, and intersecting runways make it difficult to increase capacity. As a result, the airport has developed an ominous reputation for poor infrastructure, long queues, delays, inefficient transit procedures and, more significantly, corruption. In 2011, two people were injured when part of the ceiling at Terminal 1 collapsed. A consequence of all this is that Terminal 1 had the dubious distinction of being judged the world's worst airport terminal by the "Sleeping in Airports" website (although some say the brouhaha over the terminal was a result of Filipinos overhyping everything), and passenger opinion of NAIA as a whole is poor, both from Filipinos and foreigners alike. In August 2013, an on-line survey by a hotel booking company rated NAIA as the worst airport in Asia, below airports in Vientiane, Yangon and Phnom Penh and a very long way behind the best, Singapore. Things, however, are set to improve with significant government investment in NAIA. Terminal 1 is currently undergoing a ₱1 billion makeover to modernize facilities and to strengthen the building's structural integrity, while Terminals 2 and 3 will be expanded to support more flights. A planned expressway, as well as a connection to the Manila LRT Line 1, is also expected to improve access to the airport. It is quite common for international travellers bound for parts of the country other than Luzon to deliberately avoid NAIA, instead entering the country via the smaller and friendlier Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Flights NAIA is divided into four terminals, Terminals 1-4. Although all four terminals are numerically named, two of them also have non-numerical names. Terminal 2 is commonly called the "Centennial Terminal", as it was opened for the Philippine Centennial in 1998, while Terminal 4 was formerly called the Domestic Terminal. Many airlines that fly internationally into NAIA use Terminal 1. Local airlines use the other three terminals. More precisely, the airline allocation per terminal is as follows: * Terminal 1: Air China, Air Niugini, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Dragonair, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia Airways, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Saudia, Thai Airways International, Tigerair, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Xiamen Airlines * Terminal 2: Philippine Airlines (international flights and flights to Bacolod, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag and Tagbilaran) * Terminal 3: AirAsia (international flights), All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, KLM, Philippines airlines (all other flights), Singapore Airlines * Terminal 4: AirAsia (domestic flights), AirSWIFT, Cebgo, SkyJet, Sky Pasada. NAIA charges a passenger service charge of ₱550 (₱200 for domestic flights) or its equivalent in US dollars. Commonly called the "terminal fee", this has since been integrated into the cost of the ticket. Ground transportation Getting to NAIA from various parts of Metro Manila looks bewildering, but in fact it's relatively straightforward. Because it's only eight kilometers southeast of Manila, it is well-integrated with Metro Manila's transportation system. By bus Three types of buses connect NAIA to the rest of Metro Manila: the UBE Express express bus, regular city buses and a minibus service. By UBE Express The UBE Express (which stands for "Ultimate Bus Experience") is an express bus service operated by the Department of Transportation in conjunction with the cargo provider Air21, connecting Terminals 1, 2 and 3 to various hotels and tourist attractions. All buses are air-conditioned, low-floor and equipped with Wi-Fi for the use of passengers. Three UBE Express routes are currently in operation (a full route map is available here): * Entertainment City route: NAIA → SM Mall of Asia → Solaire Resort and Casino → City of Dreams * Roxas Boulevard route: NAIA → Hotel Jen (Cultural Center) → Robinsons Place Manila → Bayview Park Hotel (Rizal Park) → Manila Hotel → Intramuros * Makati route: NAIA → Ayala Center UBE Express buses run from 07:00 to 23:00, with buses leaving every thirty minutes. A one-way ticket is normally ₱300, although for the foreseeable future tickets will sell at half-price (₱150), and places may be reserved online. By city bus For those who can't or don't want to take the UBE Express, or need to take the bus late at night, Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are also served by regular city buses. Terminals 1 and 2 are served by eight city bus routes, most of which run 24 hours a day (though with comparatively fewer buses late at night) and all of which serve points along Metro Manila's main road, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). These buses have a "MIA/Tambo/6-11" sign on the dashboard as well as the route description on the side, and are generally air-conditioned. Fares start at ₱12 (₱10 for students), and students may avail of a 20% discount on bus fares. Bus routes serving Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 Route Terminus Service area Norzagaray-Sapang Palay-NAIA via Commonwealth, Fairview, EDSA Sapang Palay Bus Terminal, Balasing-San Jose Road, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte Grotto-NAIA via EDSA, Fairview Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Santa Maria-Tungkong Mangga Road, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte Grotto-NAIA via EDSA, Ayala, Buendia Extension Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Santa Maria-Tungkong Mangga Road, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, San Jose del Monte NAIA-SM Fairview SM City Fairview, Commonwealth Avenue, Fairview, Quezon City Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City Malanday Terminal-NAIA via EDSA, Buendia, Ayala MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Dalandanan, Valenzuela Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Valenzuela Bagong Silang-NAIA via Maligaya Park, EDSA Gesen Construction Supply, Langit Road, Caloocan Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Caloocan (North) NAIA-Malanday via EDSA MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Dalandanan, Valenzuela Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Caloocan (South), Malabon, Valenzuela Lagro-NAIA via Fairview Robinsons Nova Supermarket, Quirino Highway, Caloocan Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Caloocan (North) Buses to Terminals 1 and 2 stop first at Terminal 2 before proceeding to Terminal 1 through the International Cargo Terminal. The Terminal 2 bus stop is located beside the departures ramp, just after the entrance gate to the offices of the Manila International Airport Authority, while the Terminal 1 bus stop is located just after the departures ramp, across from the short-term parking lot and the Greeters' Area. Note that buses between Terminals 1 and 2 are one-way; there are no buses which go from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, only from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1. Terminal 3 is served by the Citylink bus operated by the Megaworld Corporation, which connects Resorts World Manila (across from Terminal 3) to Eastwood City in Quezon City via Fort Bonifacio using Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) during peak hours. Buses depart from Eastwood City every thirty minutes between 06:00-09:00 and 17:30-19:30, and the fare is ₱29. Terminal 4 is the only terminal not directly served by city buses. To get to Terminal 4, take any bus to Terminals 1 or 2, alight at the intersection of NAIA Road and Domestic Road (buses will stop at a footbridge just after the intersection), cross the footbridge to the other side of the intersection, and transfer to a jeepney. By minibus A minibus service (₱20) connects Terminal 3 to MRT-3 Taft Avenue station, departing from the arrival area. Passengers are dropped off at Giselle's Bus Terminal, located beside the station and also the staging point for long-distance buses by Genesis Transport to a number of destinations in northern Luzon. By jeepney Three jeepney routes serve the airport complex. While slower, less comfortable and not air-conditioned, jeepneys are a cheaper alternative to buses, and likewise run 24 hours a day. Fares are ₱8.00 for the first 4 km (₱7 for students), with an additional ₱1 for every kilometer thereafter. Students are eligible for a 20% discount on jeepney fares, the same discount as for bus fares. * The Nichols-Vito Cruz-EDSA-Tramo jeepney route, which serves all four terminals, stops at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue (at the interchange between LRT-1 EDSA station and MRT-3 Taft Avenue station). The jeepney stop is just outside Giselle's Bus Terminal, beside the SOGO Hotel and the staircase leading up to MRT-3 Taft Avenue station. * The Baclaran-MIA jeepney route serves Terminals 1, 2 and 4 and originates at Quirino Avenue, just outside the LRT-1 Baclaran station. Some of these jeepneys may ply the longer Domestic Airport-Baclaran-South Pier jeepney route, which connects the airport to Manila South Harbor and passes through a number of points in Manila proper. Jeepneys from Baclaran toward the airport stop first at Terminal 4 before stopping at Terminals 1 and 2. At Terminals 1 and 2, jeepneys stop at the designated bus stop, while at Terminal 4, the jeepneys stop in front of the terminal, either across from (outbound) or beside (inbound) the terminal. Similar to buses, jeepneys are only one-way between Terminals 1 and 2, stopping at Terminal 2 first before stopping at Terminal 1. The Terminal 3 jeepney stop is outside the airport beside the Circulo del Mundo Rotonda, although it is possible to get off at Resorts World Manila (on the other side of the road) and cross Andrews Avenue to Terminal 3. Because of the constricted space of jeepneys, it's not recommended to use this method of public transportation with bulky luggage. By car A number of roads serve NAIA, all of which are named after the airport or prominent aviators. These include NAIA Road (commonly called MIA Road, which is the old name) and Ninoy Aquino Avenue for Terminals 1 and 2, Andrews Avenue for Terminal 3, and Domestic Road for Terminal 4. Terminal 3 is also served by the first phase of the future NAIA Expressway, which will eventually serve Terminals 1 and 2 as well. Depending on the point of origin, there are a number of ways to reach the airport, although major routes include the following: * From Manila proper, go south on Roxas Boulevard, then turn left at the intersection with NAIA Road (Uniwide Coastal Mall will be on the right, and a KFC on the left). Continue straight onto NAIA Road. To reach Terminal 4, turn left at the intersection with Domestic Road, and go straight. Terminal 4 will be on the right. To reach Terminal 3, continue past Terminal 4 until the roundabout with Andrews Avenue, then turn right and go straight until the Circulo del Mundo Rotonda. To reach Terminals 1 and 2, continue past the intersection with Domestic Road until the road forks. For Terminal 2, continue straight and follow the signs leading to NAIA Terminal 2, while for Terminal 1, turn right onto Ninoy Aquino Avenue and follow the signs leading to NAIA Terminal 1 and Parañaque. A popular detour for this route would be to go via Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay, which runs parallel to Roxas Boulevard, then turn left at the intersection of Macapagal Boulevard and NAIA Road, just before Uniwide Coastal Mall. * From the north (Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, etc.), go south on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). To reach Terminal 3, exit at the Magallanes Interchange to the South Luzon Expressway heading south (follow the signs leading to Alabang, not Manila), then exit at the Sales Interchange. Turn right onto Sales Road, and go straight until it ends at the intersection with Andrews Avenue. Alternatively, take the Metro Manila Skyway (there is an upramp beside Asia Pacific College), exit at the NAIA Terminal 3 exit (₱20), and follow the signs to Terminal 3 on Andrews Avenue. For Terminals 1, 2 and 4, continue straight on EDSA past the Magallanes Interchange until Pasay, then turn left at the interchange between EDSA and Aurora Boulevard (more commonly known as Tramo Road), and follow Aurora Boulevard until the intersection with Andrews Avenue at the end. Turn right onto Andrews Avenue, then turn left at the roundabout with Domestic Road, with Terminal 4 on the left side. For Terminals 1 and 2, turn left at the intersection of Domestic Road and NAIA Road at the end, then follow the above directions. * From the south, go north on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx). Depending on the point of origin, there are three ways to enter the airport from the south: * *If coming from Muntinlupa or from points further south, proceed to the Metro Manila Skyway, and exit at the NAIA Terminal 3 exit. Then follow the signs leading to Terminal 3 from Andrews Avenue. For Terminals 1, 2 and 4, proceed straight past the Circulo del Mundo Rotonda, then follow the above directions coming from the north. * *If coming from eastern Parañaque, go north on the East Service Road until the road ends at the Sales Interchange. Then follow the above directions coming from the north to reach Terminal 3 coming from Sales Road, or Terminals 1, 2 and 4 coming from Andrews Avenue. * *If coming from western Parañaque, proceed west on Dr. A. Santos Avenue (commonly called Sucat Road, which is the old name), which later becomes Ninoy Aquino Avenue. Terminal 1 will be on the right. At the intersection of Ninoy Aquino Avenue and NAIA Road, turn right to proceed to Terminal 2. For Terminals 3 and 4, turn left onto NAIA Road, then turn right onto Domestic Road. Follow the above directions coming from Manila to proceed to Terminals 3 and 4 via Domestic Road and Andrews Avenue. * From the east (Marikina, Pasig, etc.), go west, then turn left onto EDSA. Follow the above directions coming from the north to reach the airport. Alternatively, use Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). Continue south on C-5, then exit either at the Bayani Road interchange (beside the Heritage Memorial Park) or at the East Service Road of the South Luzon Expressway. If exiting at Bayani Road, continue straight on Bayani Road until the intersection with Lawton Avenue at the end, then turn left. Lawton Avenue becomes Sales Road upon exiting Fort Bonifacio. If exiting at the East Service Road, continue until C-5 forks, then keep right, following the signs to the East Service Road. Turn right and continue straight until reaching Sales Road, then turn left. Then follow the above directions coming from the south to reach the airport. * From Las Piñas and Cavite, go north on the Manila-Cavite Expressway (commonly called Coastal Road) until it ends at the intersection with Roxas Boulevard and NAIA Road. Then follow the above directions coming from Manila to reach the airport. Parking All four terminals have parking lots. * Cars parking at Terminal 1 may park at Lots A and B, which have a combined capacity of 500 cars. While Lot C is largely occupied by the airport taxi fleet, there are a number of slots available for paying patrons. * Cars parking at Terminal 2 may park at Car Parks 1 and 2, which have a combined capacity of around 1,100 cars. Car Park 2 is partially occupied by the airport taxi fleet. * Cars parking at Terminal 3 may park at the open car park, which has a capacity of 1,200 cars, or at the multilevel parking building beside the terminal, with a capacity of 2,000 cars. * Cars parking at Terminal 4 may park at the open car park located on the other side of Domestic Road, which has a capacity of around 100 cars. Regular parking is ₱50 for the first 2 hours, while overnight parking is ₱300/day. Cars left at the airport overnight have to be registered with security personnel upon entry. For more information, the Manila International Airport Authority also operates a parking lot hotline at +63 2 877-1109, extension 4315. By taxi For many travelers, taxis are the easiest and most convenient way of reaching the airport. A regular white city taxi to the airport costs between ₱100-250 to most destinations within the city, depending on the distance. Officially, city taxis are only allowed only to drop off passengers at the departures level of each terminal (or at a special drop-off only taxi rank in front of Terminal 4) and are barred from picking up new fares. However, those arriving passengers who are on a penny pinching, budget, may want to go up the elevator to the departure level from arrivals and "hijack" one of those white painted taxis (standard color for all city taxis), that have just dropped off their departing passengers and are heading out of the airport. Fortunately, they don't pass on any airport fees to passengers they may pick up and that's the advantage. However, since the yellow ones pay for the exclusive right to pick up passengers, security guards are under orders to shoo away non-yellow (and non-registered) taxis picking up passengers in the departure area. (Yellow cabs, although registered, tend to have faster calibrated meters. So it may end up that a white cab can get you to your destination for less than half the fare it would cost you to use a yellow cab). Yellow airport taxis also bring passengers to and from the airport. These taxis charge a flagdown rate of ₱70, plus an additional ₱4.50 for every 250 m. When leaving the airport, this is the only type of taxi available at the arrival level. Each departing taxi is registered by a dispatcher. Special coupon taxis are special taxis with fixed rates according to the destination. Coupon taxis serve various hotels in Metro Manila, most points within the city, and even towns and cities throughout Luzon. Some coupon taxi operators use minivans, which may be useful for large groups. There are coupon taxi reservation desks at each terminal, and the Manila International Airport Authority maintains a list of rates for coupon taxis on its website. On foot While not a practical way of reaching the airport, it is possible to get to the airport on foot. This is particularly true for walking from the Nichols railway station in Taguig, which is 2 km away from Terminal 3. PNR commuter trains run every thirty minutes during peak hours, and every hour at all other times, from 05:30-19:30. From Nichols station, head north on the East Service Road until the intersection with Sales Road at the end, then turn left. Walk straight until the intersection with Andrews Avenue at the end. To cross to Terminal 3, there is a crosswalk close to the Circulo del Mundo Rotonda. Be careful when crossing the road, as there are no pedestrian crossing lights and cars travel along Andrews Avenue at high speed. It is also possible to board a Nichols Ikot (Nichols Loop) jeepney towards Terminal 3 at the opposite side of the Nichols Interchange exit, beside the Villamor Golf Course. While technically possible to walk via Taft Avenue Extension, Quirino Avenue and then Airport Road, it is not recommended to walk from LRT-1 Baclaran station to Terminal 4 despite the distance (only 1.5 km). Use a jeepney instead. Get around NAIA is famously known for being difficult to transit through, especially if the connecting flight leaves from a different terminal. However, free 24-hour airport shuttle buses transport passengers between terminals. The buses run every fifteen minutes, although adherence to the schedule tends to be spotty. Shuttle buses depart from the arrival area of all terminals, so make sure to have a visa (if required to enter or transit the Philippines) if connecting to a flight departing from another terminal. If in a rush, take a taxi. Allocate at least three hours when transiting between terminals (especially if going to Terminal 3) in case of traffic congestion around airport roads. Passengers connecting between Philippine Airlines and PAL Express flights may avail of a free airside shuttle service between Terminals 2 and 3. There is also a free airside shuttle service between Terminals 3 and 4 for passengers connecting between Cebu Pacific and Tigerair Philippines flights. It is also possible to walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 (and vice-versa) via the International Cargo Terminal, using the same road used by public buses and jeepneys. Walking between the two terminals takes fifteen minutes, with a direct view of the apron around Gates 1 and 2 at Terminal 1. Connect Internet All four terminals have free, unlimited Wi-Fi access on the GlobeFreeWiFi@NAIA network, provided by Globe Telecom, although coverage can be spotty at times. There are standalone computer terminals at Terminals 1 and 2 with access to the Internet, as well as laptop desks at Terminal 2 beside the computer terminals. Mail Two of the NAIA terminals have post offices. At Terminal 1, the post office is located on the west wing of the arrivals lobby, while at Terminal 2, the post office is located beside the Pass Control Office in the arrivals level of the South Wing. Both post offices are open on weekdays from 08:00-17:00. Mailboxes are located at the West Transit Lounge (after immigration) at Terminal 1, and at the post office in Terminal 2. Mail is picked up at 10:30 daily on weekdays. Stamps are available for purchase at the following stores: * Terminal 1: All stores between Gates 3-10 * Terminal 2: Stores around Gate S1 (South Wing), Store in front of the Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Class check-in counter (North Wing) These stores are also authorized to bring mail to the post office for delivery. During weekends, these stores will hold mail until the post office reopens on Monday. At Terminal 1, this service is provided by the Christian Ventures bookstore at the East Satellite (gates 2-7).