The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has achieved a significant milestone in global airport rankings for international connectivity.
According to the 2023 Megahubs Index by OAG, a leading provider of digital flight information, intelligence and analytics for airports, NAIA has climbed 14 notches from 29th place in 2019 to 15th.
Adding to its accomplishments, NAIA secured the third spot in the prestigious list of the top 25 low-cost carrier airport megahubs. This recognition signifies NAIA’s commitment to delivering efficient and cost-effective services to budget-conscious travelers.
NAIA’s success story is further propelled by bilyonaryo Lucio Tan’s Philippine Airlines, which commands a 32 percent share of flights at the country’s primary international gateway.
NAIA holds its ground as the 6th top international hub within the Asia Pacific region. This list, led by London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, includes other distinguished airports such as KUL (Malaysia), HND (Japan), ICN (Republic of Korea), BKK (Thailand), and SIN (Singapore).
Currently, NAIA serves as the gateway to the Philippines for 40 international carriers, offering flights to 58 international destinations. The latest addition to NAIA’s roster is ZIPAIR, which initiated its Manila-Narita route in July.
Additionally, PAL has introduced nonstop flights to Perth, while Air China now provides direct connectivity from Tianfu Chengdu to NAIA.
In the low-cost international connections category NAIA ranked third, following KUL (Malaysia) and ICN (Republic of Korea). This recognition is bolstered by the presence of Philippines’ leading budget airline Cebu Pacific Air, which is set to launch flights to Da Nang from Manila in December.
As NAIA continues to expand its reach, with upcoming launches such as HK Express’ inaugural flight to Hong Kong on October 13 and United Airlines’ nonstop flights connecting Manila to San Francisco starting October 30, the airport aims to provide Filipinos and guests with an even broader range of travel options.
