THE holiday rush is coming.

The number of travelers in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is expected to increase by up to 15 percent in mid-December, right before the Christmas holidays, according to the Manila International Airport Authority. 

Bryan Co, MIAA senior assistant general manager, said NAIA has around 100,000 arriving and departing passengers a day for domestic and international flights.

By December 15, the number is expected to peak. 

“Sa peak season po, inaasahan po natin na dadagdag po ang pasahero natin dito sa NAIA at around mga 13 to 15 percent. Currently, we are at around a hundred thousand passengers daily,” Co said. 

The peak season would last until early January, he said. 

The number of domestic travelers in the country has surpassed the pre-pandemic level, he noted. 

But the number of international travelers has yet to rebound to the previous level, and is only at 60 to 70 percent of pre-pandemic traffic, he said.

This was due to some countries still restricting movements in and out of their borders, he said.

Meanwhile, MIAA also reminded Philippine Airline passengers that its flights from the United States, Canada, and the Middle East would be transferred to the NAIA Terminal 1 from Terminal 2 effective December 1. 

Co said this was because Terminal 2, which is used exclusively by PAL, has become congested due to the numerous available flights of the country’s flag carrier. 

Terminal 1 is not as crowded and could accommodate more flights, he said. It is not being utilized fully because some international markets, such as China, remain restricted, he added. 

He said PAL passengers could expect a better airport experience with the decongestion of Terminal 2.

“Kapag nailipat po natin ito sa Terminal 1, mas gaganda po ang ating passenger experience; mawawalan po tayo ng mas mahahabang queue at napakasikip na pick up and, of course, sa drop-off points natin sa terminal curbside po,” he said. 

Photo credit: PNA