NAIA Sees Surge in Passengers as Holy Week Begins, Efficiency Maintained

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Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has witnessed a significant increase in passenger volumes during the first days of the Holy Week, with operations remaining efficient despite the surge. According to New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), the private operator, the airport recorded 150,511 passengers on Palm Sunday, April 13, an 11.77% rise from last year's figures.

Holy Monday and Tuesday similarly saw jumps in passenger numbers, with 142,560 and 140,407 people, respectively, marking significant increases from last year's statistics. Overall, the three-day period logged 433,478 passengers.

Predicted to attract over 1.18 million travelers by Easter Sunday, April 20, this represents a 14% increase from last year’s 1.04 million. Despite the high volume, NNIC reports that operations have run smoothly, thanks to several measures implemented to handle the influx efficiently.

The Bureau of Immigration has played a key role by deploying additional officers across terminals, easing congestion and facilitating faster passenger processing. Further, NNIC has assigned more traffic personnel to manage vehicle flow and has opened assistance booths manned by airport personnel, medical teams, and officers to support passengers.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon inspected NAIA Terminal 3 early on Tuesday, observing efficient processing during peak departure hours. His feedback aligns with monitoring reports indicating that passenger flow remains steady and that the responsive measures continue to perform as planned.

NNIC President Ramon S. Ang expressed gratitude for the coordinated efforts of various authorities, including the Manila International Airport Authority, the Department of Transportation’s Office for Transportation Security, and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group. He also acknowledged the hard work of airport staff and frontline workers for their dedication during this busy period.

The growth in passenger numbers at NAIA signifies rising travel demand, which positively impacts sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and retail, thereby boosting the national economy and strengthening the wider workforce, reported Manila Bulletin.