Manila International Airport

[ewh1]

I wonder if PAL got lead time and construction for a new Mabuhay Lounge is or will be underway? I just picture a repeat of customers being packed in Marhaba and PAGSS  for 6-12 months. Hopefully it’s already underway.

And I agree, I’m excited for the transfer possibilities and hopeful that it might bring better connections with more people willing to go through MNL. Maybe alliance membership could be a possibility within the next couple of years since they can properly host transfer pax?.

When PAL was still at T2, I remember they used to hold people up in a sad transfer room… At least people have a variety of options to walk, shop, relax and get a proper bite to eat at NAIA 3

[fd20]

Solblanc wrote

It’s also interesting to see PAL’s transfer traffic. They sell a lot of BKK-North America flights competing with Taiwanese carriers. And their Japan flights also get a lot of connecting passengers from Indonesia and Australia. The number is not insignificant, and it helps keep planes full when the regular O/D traffic takes a seasonal dip.

Apparently, their PER-MNL flights attract a fair amount of connecting passengers to North America as well. I once watched a vlog where the guy (who was documenting his PER-MNL flight) mentioned that at least half of the passengers on his flight were headed for either the US or Canada. The guy himself had a connecting flight to Vancouver.

[romantic_guy08]

Arianespace wrote

That assumes no slippage in the building retrofit at T4. At this posting, they are already a month behind due to plumbing issues. Common problem associated with building improvements. So I'm skeptical about June. July maybe.

T4 is essential for the orderly transfer to work. So unless T4 is completed on time transfer is gonna be chaotic unless deferred.

I liked T1 nowadays. Its the best terminal at NAIA, comfort wise. It's the best terminal for PAL too as it is less crowded. It won't be when CEB transfers its international operations there as they have way more flights carrying more people.

By end of the year, T1 should have CEB and other LCCs operating there. T2 West by CEB and North by PAL. T3 with PAL and other international FSC, while T4 will have AirAsia and other LCC.

Interestingly, T5 becomes PAL domestic soon as CEB occupies the north wing.

Same T1 is actually my preferred terminal as well...

from deplaning to baggage retrieval, I was able to do in about or less than 10 mins and I was out waiting for my ride...

The new e-gates are fast as well... wondering though why a lot are still lining up at the manual booths... lines where long for those while very few were using the e-gates...

[filipinoavgeek]

I'm surprised at how liked T1 is here because, the last time I was there a few months ago, it was clearly showing its age. The departure area felt very small and the food options were not very good. Considering it's PR's terminal, it felt very outdated for what is supposed to be our flag carrier. Granted, it was already under renovation, so maybe things have changed since then. Terminal 3 is not perfect and it clearly needs a renovation, and it's not as good as foreign terminals, but I still find it to be the best of the three terminals.

[Arianespace]

romantic_guy08 wrote

The new e-gates are fast as well... wondering though why a lot are still lining up at the manual booths... lines where long for those while very few were using the e-gates...

Most OFWs don't know how it works. Observed it myself. Instead of lining up the faster way they opted to cue where the immigration officers are. While I breeze easily to the baggage area.

By the way, E-gates are available only to Filipinos sa hindi nakakaalam. At least nakaganti din tayo sa puti kahit paano. In the US, UK and EU they have their own gates while foreigners have separate lines.

[Arianespace]

Solblanc wrote

 T1 has one machine and that’s it)

That is true. Saw it myself. Kala ko pinoy nag pila sa arrival security check papuntang departure. Pinoy looking Foreigners pala. They came from north america kasi most arrival early mornings are coming there. When they were still at T2 deretso na sila sa departure area. Wala ng security check. I'm not familiar with T3 though. Never seen the transfer facility there.

[seven13]

filipinoavgeek wrote

I'm surprised at how liked T1 is here because, the last time I was there a few months ago, it was clearly showing its age. The departure area felt very small and the food options were not very good. Considering it's PR's terminal, it felt very outdated for what is supposed to be our flag carrier. Granted, it was already under renovation, so maybe things have changed since then. Terminal 3 is not perfect and it clearly needs a renovation, and it's not as good as foreign terminals, but I still find it to be the best of the three terminals.

I honestly like T1 more than T3. T3 has a vibe like a big restroom. At least T1, despite its age, is carpeted and has a better vibe and I hate the flooring of T3. I hate going through T3 and avoid it as much as possible.

[frequentflier]

seven13 wrote

filipinoavgeek wrote

I'm surprised at how liked T1 is here because, the last time I was there a few months ago, it was clearly showing its age. The departure area felt very small and the food options were not very good. Considering it's PR's terminal, it felt very outdated for what is supposed to be our flag carrier. Granted, it was already under renovation, so maybe things have changed since then. Terminal 3 is not perfect and it clearly needs a renovation, and it's not as good as foreign terminals, but I still find it to be the best of the three terminals.

I honestly like T1 more than T3. T3 has a vibe like a big restroom. At least T1, despite its age, is carpeted and has a better vibe and I hate the flooring of T3. I hate going through T3 and avoid it as much as possible.

Agree. T1 has a lot of character vs T3 that’s very generic. T2 is beautiful but it’s very small.

[romantic_guy08]

New airline terminal assignments at NAIA

[filipinoavgeek]

I wonder if it's a coincidence or not that Zipair is suspending MNL around the same time JAL is moving to T3. I remember that one reason why JAL was reluctant to move to T3 was because they had a lounge in T1, but that has now already closed due to the remaking of T1 into an LCC terminal.

[airline_builder]

Hope we can have postings here of current pictures and developments of New Terminal 4 and the new taxiway parallel to 13/31 opposite nayong pilipino

thanks.

[Arianespace]

Here is a satellite view yesterday



And here is the actual view weeks ago



And a video a month ago. Hope it helps


https://youtu.be/ax9estxXDsw?t=159

[ewh1]

Arianespace wrote

Here is a satellite view yesterday



And here is the actual view weeks ago



And a video a month ago. Hope it helps


https://youtu.be/ax9estxXDsw?t=159

This one is a good video that shows the perimeter. Also, kinda a realistic look at transiting terminals
https://youtu.be/H_JXUBo9ygw?si=cD-gf8Zw1xtrh2gI

[filipinoavgeek]

I've been wondering for a while: is there a reason why the terminal shuttle buses still use NAIAX instead of the inner perimeter roads? Is it impossible for them to just use the inner roads and avoid Manila's traffic? Other airports already do that. Terminal 2 and 3 already have bus gates, so it's not like it's impossible.

[Arianespace]

Airside Traffic. They used to do that until 50 transfer buses where inside. And that is only the buses.  And there are number of cargo trailers as you can see in the video provided above, fuel, service and maintenance vehicles couple it with a fact that there is only one narrow road. It is more prudent to have the terminal buses outside as there is less traffic there. Believe me, 15 minute transfer from T1 to T3 and vice versa is fast. That is because they have waiting time at T2.

Transfer bus is what you ride to and from the airplane when airlines park at remotes. Terminal bus is what you ride when transfering different terminals. Learn the difference.

This is a shuttle bus for terminal transfer


And this is transfer bus used by airlines to remotes

[filipinoavgeek]

Would building that tunnel between T2 and T3 help with the transfer buses? It might also increase efficiency for the other service vehicles.

[Arianespace]

You wouldn't need transfer buses if the tunnels were there

[filipinoavgeek]

I meant the service road tunnel that would allow fuel and cargo vehicles among others to cross the runway instead of the roundabout route used currently.

[Arianespace]

It was part of the improvement proposal for the Terminal 2 annex (aka T5) project but never flew off the ground because it entails the closure of runway 13-31. The implications of that closure means substantial reduction of domestic flights.

[frequentflier]

I wonder if you know the construction right beside T2. Is this the extension?