- International passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) reached nearly 20 million from January 1 to October 22, 2026, even as global aviation faced disruptions linked to the Middle East.
- New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the airport’s private operator, reported 19.93 million international passengers during the period, up 2.6% from the 19.42 million recorded a year earlier. The increase represented an additional 507,772 passengers.
- Traffic continued to grow in October, with international passenger volume rising 2.05% year-on-year to 1.39 million in the first 22 days of the month.
International passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) reached nearly 20 million from January 1 to October 22, 2026, even as global aviation faced disruptions linked to the Middle East.
New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the airport’s private operator, reported 19.93 million international passengers during the period, up 2.6% from the 19.42 million recorded a year earlier. The increase represented an additional 507,772 passengers.
Traffic continued to grow in October, with international passenger volume rising 2.05% year-on-year to 1.39 million in the first 22 days of the month.
International travelers accounted for 48.1% of NAIA’s total passenger traffic, up from 46.6% during the same period last year. Domestic passenger volume, meanwhile, declined 3.4% to 21.49 million.
More international flights planned for Manila
The growth in international travel comes as airlines expand their services to and from Manila.
According to NNIC, Air France has resumed flights to the Philippines, while Philippine Airlines plans to launch nonstop flights to Chicago in November 2026. The flag carrier is also scheduled to introduce flights to Delhi and Mumbai in December, subject to regulatory approval for the Indian routes.
Delta Air Lines is expected to launch nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Manila in March 2027, initially operating three times a week before expanding to daily service in June.
Indian carrier IndiGo is also expected to introduce routes to Manila, although further details on its planned services were not provided in the supplied report.
NAIA’s international connectivity has also received recognition in the aviation industry. The airport ranked sixth globally for international low-cost carrier connectivity in OAG’s 2026 Megahubs index.
NAIA on-time performance improves
Alongside the increase in international traffic, NAIA’s system-wide on-time performance (OTP) improved to 81.07% from 77.92% a year earlier, a gain of 3.15 percentage points.
On-time arrivals averaged 82.09%, while departures recorded an OTP of 80.05%.
NNIC General Manager Lito Alvarez said the continued growth in international passenger traffic reflected sustained travel demand despite challenges affecting aviation worldwide. He said the airport operator would need to improve facilities, operational reliability, and the passenger experience to accommodate that demand.
The improvement in on-time performance came while NNIC continued modernizing the airport’s terminals during active operations.
NAIA continues to handle passenger volumes above design capacity
NAIA handled a record 52 million passengers in 2025, substantially exceeding its original annual design capacity of 35 million.
The latest international traffic figures highlight the importance of airport capacity and operational improvements as more travelers pass through Manila. However, the decline in domestic passenger volume shows that growth has not been uniform across all segments.
For travelers, the combination of expanding international routes and improved on-time performance could make flight options and airport operations important factors to watch in the coming months. Actual schedules, route launches, and operational conditions remain subject to changes by airlines and relevant authorities.