Manila International Airport

[seven13]

E-boarding gates are currently being installed in T1. Similarly, check-in kiosk are being installed at the middle area of the departure check-in area.

Hopefully everything will be functional just in time for the holiday rush period.

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WO_bc6W_p8



NNIC launched their new YouTube channel highlighting more of its accomplishments in the first year as well as new images of T4 and new Diplomatic & Arrival lounges soon to be opened. It’s also the first confirmation that they will be providing a direct connection to MM Subway at Terminal 3

[Arianespace]

You got a wrong information on this one. The subway project is envisioned to end at Terminal 3, whether there is NNIC or not. Just to correct facts for our readers.

[ewh1]

Yes, the MM Station is at T3, but I interpreted "direct connection" as a physical link from the station, located in front of T3, to the actual terminal. There are plans for an underground link as per station schematics and plans. Whether NNIC makes it an underground link as per the plan, or a cheaper, above ground link (elevators/escalators to Runway Manila, for example) is anyone's guess.


Edit, here's the detail of an underground station connection to T3 at 19:02 & 19:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy_jH1L7GJk

[Arianespace]

There is the underground link, but that is not NNIC call. Remember, they are just the airport operator. It is not right to claim what is not theirs in the first place.

[JNC03]

Looks like SMC vs LT again

[Arianespace]

Vince was not able to resolved this issue as he hoped for as explained to him by Sec. Recto. Coincidentally, it was above his pay grade.

[filipinoavgeek]

Is this why LTP is planning to build a facility in Clark, so if they are unable to stay in NAIA they'll just move there?

[Arianespace]

SMC is giving them until December. Meanwhile, SIA Engineering taking over 1/4 of the LTP grounds is on hold. This should be interesting to watch. Only one President forced PAL to pay its 20 year unpaid obligations to MIAA.

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

From NNIC:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122182136168482098&id=61564462967297

Faster Immigration Checks Are Coming to NAIA!

Good news for international travelers—starting December, NAIA will begin activating new Immigration eGates in Terminals 1 and 3.

Powered by Amadeus and operated by the Bureau of Immigration, these eGates form part of an automated border-control system that uses passport scanning and facial recognition to help speed up both arrivals and departures. The first set goes live this December, with full rollout early next year.

To help fast-track the rollout, the eGates were funded by NNIC and set up in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration. They will work alongside the biometric check-in, pre-security, and boarding systems already being introduced across NAIA.

With the airport now handling over 50 million passengers a year, these upgrades will help keep lines moving and make travel smoother for everyone.

More improvements soon.

[filipinoavgeek]

So basically, LTP leaving NAIA, if that actually ends up happening, does not necessarily mean the end of LTP itself? They will just move to Clark, whereas SIA Engineering or another group will just take over the existing facilities?

[Arianespace]

At the latest, LTP is not budging. They say they are not covered by the NNIC contract. They still have December to pay or leave, until which NNIC sues them.

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

Is this the same thing that we see in HKG? Will they eventually replace most immigration tellers/officers we have today?

[filipinoavgeek]

https://www.facebook.com/ArielDugoy/videos/1588470822292483/

I'm confused about how Terminal 4 is going to work. Are they completely demolishing the existing building and they are going to build Terminal 4 on that spot, or are they partially demolishing the building, with a plan to renovate it into the new Terminal 4?

[Arianespace]

The answer to this question is in page 32.

[Solblanc]

Arianespace wrote

The answer to this question is in page 32.

The answer was also in the link. What the guy said tracked with the discussions.

I dunno why that tiny space between T1 and T2 will merit being an actual separate terminal when it seems like it can just be an expansion annex of either T1 or T2.

That being said, it would be interesting to see what kind of rigodon will happen.

T4 is supposed to be operational mid-2026, and that is somehow supposed to be able to take in Cebpac domestic operations. But if it’s contiguous to T2 I can imagine there won’t be too much issue sharing gates.

Public pronouncements state that T1 is supposed to become an LCC terminal. So in theory Cebpac international is gonna be there. So while they had a nice same-terminal setup at T3 for the longest time, what they get in return is better taxi times from the main runway. Also, if T4 is done right, then there should be a contiguous physical connection for T1-T4-T2, so people can walk between these terminals and not bother with a shuttle bus.

Will PAL be willing to move their international operations to T3? Is there even going to be lounge space for them to move their mabuhay lounge? Even though their domestic/intl ops are currently split, it’s not so bad on the airside as they’re on the same side of the runway at the very least. If they get separated by a runway, it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll reposition equipment that do both domestic and international ops.

Anyway, from what the video shows, though, a mid-2026 completion of T4 seems a little too optimistic. They haven’t even torn down the old cargo terminal.

[ewh1]

From what the initial renderings showed, it’s a refurbishment of the original building, not a full tear down.

Heres a refresher from page 33


Mid-2026 is plausible for a refurbishment, pending other issues, tho I’d be inclined to say, the end of 2026 is more realistic.

[filipinoavgeek]

ewh1 wrote

From what the initial renderings showed, it’s a refurbishment of the original building, not a full tear down.

Heres a refresher from page 33


Mid-2026 is plausible for a refurbishment, pending other issues, tho I’d be inclined to say, the end of 2026 is more realistic.

Unless they plan to move the fuel depot as well and expand the building, T4 might be too small for CebPac's domestic operations.

[ewh1]

I’m under the impression that Cebu Pacific will move to T2 and will utilize bus gates temporarily until PAL vacates to T5. Don’t take my word for it, but I believe I heard it from one of those ambush interviews of RSA.

Also, this article suggests that PAL is already preparing for its move to Terminal 3, even suggesting that NNIC will turn their Mabuhay Lounge into a paid one.

https://business.inquirer.net/548475/biz-buzz-wanted-new-bsp-ag/amp

NNIC is also building a common carrier lounge (see pic below) so at the very least, that’s a temporary solution. NNIC seems to also be reconfiguring the 4th floor of NAIA 3 so there could be a possibility that they convert part or all to airside space and allocate lounge space there or else, kick someone out so they can move in.

[Solblanc]

Wow. T2 is gonna be very, very tight for a while if PAL and Cebpac are gonna cram themselves in there while waiting for T5. I wonder if there’s enough ramp space at the very least.

And a refurbished cargo terminal isn’t the best, but it’ll have to do for Air Asia.