MANILA, Philippines — Passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport reached 50.1 million in 2024, breaking all previous records as travel demand surged past pre-pandemic levels.
The number of passengers that passed through NAIA last year is at least 5% higher than the airport’s pre-pandemic peak of 47.9 million in 2019 and the highest-ever in its history, according to a statement by the San Miguel-led New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) on Thursday, January 2.
Besides a record-high number of passengers, NAIA also achieved its highest-ever flight numbers in 2024 with 293,488 flights operating through Manila’s main gateway, up 8.08% from 2019, according to the statement.
NAIA was designed to only accommodate 35 million passengers per year.
“More Filipinos are flying, and more visitors are coming to the Philippines,” said Ramon Ang, NNIC president. “This growth is a clear sign that confidence in air travel has returned.”
The latest figures mark a turnaround from the pandemic’s impact on air travel. NAIA’s passenger count plunged to 11.1 million in 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions halted most flights. Passenger count dipped even lower in 2021 with 8 million, then jumped to 31 million in 2022, before reaching 45.3 million in 2023.
Flight operations have shown a similar rebound. From a low of 91,067 flights in 2020, flight numbers at NAIA increased to 121,095 in 2021, rose to 246,724 in 2022, before hitting 270,911 in 2023.
NAIA’s new management also reported that between December 30 and January 1, more than 83% of flights ran on schedule. At least 88% of flights departed and arrived on time on New Year’s Eve (December 31) — its best on-time performance since NNIC’s takeover.
“Our goal is to ensure that NAIA provides a better experience for everyone – passengers, airlines, and partners alike,” Ang said in the statement.
NNIC aims to “transform NAIA into a modern, efficient airport that can support the country’s goals for tourism and economic growth,” the statement added.
The San Miguel-led group took over NAIA’s operations in September 2024. Shortly after, it raised overnight parking rates at the airport from P300 to a whopping P1,200.
RELATED: Calls mount to halt airport fee hike following NAIA luggage mishap | NAIA hikes overnight parking fees to P1,200 amid new management
Be the first to comment