Manila International Airport

[idp5601]

Will Sangley be ready by then?

I can't help but wonder how much this would affect tourism, especially if people would be forced to transfer all the way to CRK just for connecting flights to small but important tourist destinations like IAO.

[Arianespace]

filipinoavgeek wrote

Isn't the main reason for T4's continued existence the turboprop flights? I know the future plans are for T4 to permanently close once T2's expansion is done, and for T4 to be converted to other purposes, but that is years away.

No it is not. If you read the previous pages, the slot is more valuable for jet services than turboprops. If you see closer, half of parking spaces in front of T4 are already utilized for jets. The CEB jets.

[Arianespace]

JNC03 wrote

Not covered by the order are those used for general aviation or the private planes used mostly by politicians to go to the different provinces.

Also not covered by the order are scheduled domestic carriers that utilize purely turboprop aircraft or those that have five or fewer aircraft in their fleet. These include Sunlight Airways, Island Aviation, Alphaland and AirSwift, which will be given until the start of Summer 2026 to completely transfer their operations to other airports.

https://tinyurl.com/2ku6j78p

Now they are

MANILA, Philippines — The private operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is eyeing to limit general aviation at the gateway to one slot per hour to maximize its runway for commercial flights.

Sources told The STAR that New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) is proposing a reduction in the number of slots allocated for general aviation after the midterm elections in May.

Airlines are pushing for the removal of general aviation, particularly private flights, in NAIA to dedicate the gateway solely for commercial operations.

The plan is to trim the slots for general aviation to one per hour from at least two per hour. A source said this is the best compromise the operator can give, as some political figures oppose removing their private jets from NAIA.

https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/01/21/2415627/nnic-plans-limit-private-jets-naia-runway-efficiency

[filipinoavgeek]

I was thinking more the terminal itself, considering after AirAsia and Royal moved to T2 it's really only been used for turboprop flights. If turboprops are gone from NAIA, that seems to remove the need for T4 as a terminal facility.

[Arianespace]

If you wonder where SRQ and ATX gate is at T2

[ewh1]

Terminal 1 is now for International LCCs
Terminal 2/5 domestic
Terminal 3 Long haul international.

Source: https://youtu.be/4AuKlcWhRCU?si=VWQWs-BPv7iIfYx1

lol the scenarios keep changing though I doubt we’re surprised nothing is set in stone yet.

If true, sucks for PAL if they have to build yet another new lounge. Hopefully there’s still enough space for them to build one?

From a hub perspective, makes better sense for the passenger if they’re at T3. Better facilities for transfers and layovers which would alleviate the bad reputation stemming from NAIA 1

[Arianespace]

That is actually accurate in the next 5 years. Presently, T1 would be relegated to PAL, both domestic and international, while T2 would be given to CEB domestic, while T3 would be for all international flights not PAL. When T2 and T3 Annex is constructed, all domestic would operate at T2, while all FSCs operate at T3.

I believe however that T1 would remain PAL. Why? In 5 years time Bulakan would already be open, and the first transferee there are the low cost carriers.

[JNC03]

The head of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Thursday renovation works at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4 was halted, but added that the private operator is planning to construct a Terminal 5.

"Yes (it's true) but NNIC (New NAIA Infra Corp.) plans to construct Terminal 5," MIAA general manager Eric Ines told the Philippine News Agency.

Last October, operator NNIC announced that Terminal 4, the oldest among all NAIA terminals, would undergo "safety upgrades" and renovation beginning Nov. 6, and is expected to reopen in February this year.


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1243002

[Arianespace]

That was really the intent way back 2018. Demolish T4 with the construction of T2 Annex, a.k.a. T5. Maybe SMC figured its cost effective not to repair them at all and just add capacity to the new terminal. After all, they were serving turboprops, and they decided to forego turboprop services. Just like I said 10 years ago. And that info came from MIAA too!

[filipinoavgeek]

Saw this on another forum. Is this plan legit? It would make T2 annex/T5 larger than T3. Also it would encroach the current gen av area.

[filipinoavgeek]

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1PLNNnm4La/
Looks like demolition of the Philippine Village Hotel is already underway.

[Arianespace]

filipinoavgeek wrote

Saw this on another forum. Is this plan legit? It would make T2 annex/T5 larger than T3. Also it would encroach the current gen av area.

The T2 Annex apron extends only to the gasoline station, so only up to Nayong Pilipino. But that was the original plan in 2018.

[JNC03]

The government is exploring ways to convince a prized investor at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to stay, as it reportedly considers exiting the Philippines after its lease ballooned by 11 times.

LTP operates a 226,000-square-meter facility at the MacroAsia Economic Zone in Villamor Air Base, so it spends P160 million monthly for lease. Aviation industry sources told The STAR that LTP used to pay just P14 million a month for lease.

Given this, there are concerns that LTP may eventually pack up operations in NAIA and relocate business elsewhere.

Further, the STAR learned that the Airline Operators Council (AOC) wrote a letter to the NNIC asking it to defer the lease adjustments that would take effect on March 14.

The AOC, chaired by Edgar Allan Nepomuceno, said the lease increase would distort the financial plans of airlines, which have already firmed up their budgets for the year.

The AOC said the lease hikes could disrupt business operations at the airport, noting that airlines are still reeling from the impact of the first round of price increases in 2024.


https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/03/06/2426161/government-steps-keep-lufthansa-operating-philippines

[filipinoavgeek]

LTP has been rumored to be leaving Manila or even the Philippines entirely for years now, the rumors aren't new. Even before SMC came into the picture.

[Arianespace]

Not true. They intend to reduce footprints at NAIA and relocate to CRK. They were notified way in advance prior to tender of bid by DOTr sometime 2021. The fee increase was expected to come. Vince is just playing politics on fee reductions because LT Group happens to fund Marcos campaign.

The real story is they are relocating to a much bigger CRK. They agreed about it in 2023 and sealed in 2024 when President Marcos visited Berlin in March that year.


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220859

The relocation story can be found here:

Aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) is bullish for the coming years, specifically for its Clark operations, where the company is on track with its $150-million expansion which will eventually be able to cater to six aircraft.

Read more:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/923281/lufthansa-technik-philippines-bullish-on-clark-on-track-with-150-m-expansion/story/

[filipinoavgeek]

Yeah, that's the confusing thing. Even if NAIA's lease payments went up, that shouldn't necessarily mean exiting the market entirely. After all, they could just relocate to Clark (albeit probably needing to compete with SIA Engineering). Plus, they also just opened up a station in GenSan. Something doesn't add up here. Could it mean the Philippine exit is overblown and they aren't actually considering something that drastic?

[romantic_guy08]

I recently added an online forum with various aviation industry stakeholders (with reps from IATA, cargo, private operators), and heard of the many concerns and complaints from the industry with regards to the current fees at NAIA... and during that forum, the issue with LTP was indeed brought up. One operator was particular operator was very vocal about it.

[Arianespace]

AFAIR, rates were made public prior to NAIA tender. Stake holders were made aware that fee increases are going to go up and how much. There were no problems encountered in CEB and CRK, where MNL was patterned. Same stakeholders in MNL. They know. Suddenly, the fuss on the fees. Highly suspicious, if you asked me.

SMC is not to blame. They were just following the price indices provided by DOTr to which bid were based. The fees were set by ADB consistent with other major airports in the region. It is not whimsical as stakeholders make you believe. Strangely, the news did not even bother to asked where the new fees came about, and where was it based. Clearly, it is a paid ad in guise of news. We don't do that here.

Remember, I told you about JJB? He did stand for these things, he was called to Malacanang to suspend implementation of fees. He said no. It was during this time that reclamation was suspended too. Ring a bell?

Vince meanwhile is entertaining the thought and hears the stakeholder after the bid, after his appointment. Coincidence? Very unlikely.

If he makes u turn, we can see SMC suing the government for breach of contract which it is bound to lose. Scary isn't it?

[xzibit31]

Arianespace wrote

AFAIR, rates were made public prior to NAIA tender. Stake holders were made aware that fee increases are going to go up and how much. There were no problems encountered in CEB and CRK, where MNL was patterned. Same stakeholders in MNL. They know. Suddenly, the fuss on the fees. Highly suspicious, if you asked me.

SMC is not to blame. They were just following the price indices provided by DOTr to which bid were based. The fees were set by ADB consistent with other major airports in the region. It is not whimsical as stakeholders make you believe. Strangely, the news did not even bother to asked where the new fees came about, and where was it based. Clearly, it is a paid ad in guise of news. We don't do that here.

Remember, I told you about JJB? He did stand for these things, he was called to Malacanang to suspend implementation of fees. He said no. It was during this time that reclamation was suspended too. Ring a bell?

Vince meanwhile is entertaining the thought and hears the stakeholder after the bid, after his appointment. Coincidence? Very unlikely.

If he makes u turn, we can see SMC suing the government for breach of contract which it is bound to lose. Scary isn't it?

Looks like a soap opera in the making.  This is one of the reasons why the Philippines will never move forward as a country.  Too many cry babies.

[Arianespace]

Its not without precedent. The Government of the Philippines did lose to PIATCO.  PIATCO just happens to be awarded concession agreement to build and operate Terminal 3. And the government was forced to pay back PIATCO. That is the reason why MIAA owns Terminal 3 now.