While the full “rationalization plan” for Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport won’t see the sing le mass movement of airlines between terminals, four international carriers have “volunteered” to shift their operations from NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 starting this month.

According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the four airlines who will shift their terminal assignment at NAIA between October and January are Qantas, United, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.

Qantas and United are first of the four, making the switch yesterday (October 28), followed by Qatar Airways (December 1), and Turkish Airlines (January 1). They will join other foreign carriers already based out of Terminal 3 such as KLM, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, All Nippon Airways (ANA), and Delta.

According to MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal, the move is intended to make room for flights to and from the United States through Terminal 1. “International flights, specifically US flights, which is really giving us more volume in terms of arrival and departure, we will transfer them to Terminal 1,” Monreal said.

MIAA is still settings its sights on shifting international flights to Terminal 3 and domestic flights to Terminal 2, as Monreal added: “At some point we’ll be able to minimize international operations in Terminal 2, because as we all know Terminal 2 is not really designed for international travel.”

The airport is working on a PHP606 million (USD $11.3 million) rehabilitation project of Terminal 2, which currently serves Philippine Airlines’ international and domestic flights. While handing some flights from some foreign carriers, Terminal 3 is also the primary hub of Cebu Pacific’s international and domestic flights at NAIA.







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