Manila Airport (MNL) Guide 2026: Terminals, Airlines and Transfers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Last updated: Aug 25, 2026

This article has been reviewed by Wego‘s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Key takeaways

NAIA now runs three passenger terminals, not four. The old Terminal 4 closed in November 2024 and was demolished; a replacement is under construction.

Terminal assignments changed substantially in March 2026. Seven carriers swapped terminals, so an old guide will send you to the wrong building.

There is no airside connection between terminals. Every terminal change means exiting, re-checking in and clearing security again.

Table of Contents

Overview

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), still widely called Manila International Airport, is the primary gateway to the Philippines. It sits between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, roughly 7 kilometres south of Manila proper and southwest of Makati, and has been in operation since 1948, making it one of Asia’s oldest continuously operating airports.

The airport has changed hands recently. In September 2024, the New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC), a San Miguel Corporation-led consortium, took over day-to-day operations under a 15-year concession. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) remains the government body overseeing the airport but no longer runs it. That handover matters to travellers because NNIC has been steadily reorganising which airline uses which terminal, and those changes are still ongoing.

NAIA is the hub for the Philippines’ flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, and its regional arm PAL Express. It is also the main base for Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia. If you are pricing a trip, our guide to cheap flights to Manila tracks live fares on the main routes into MNL, and you can search current flights to Manila or hotels in Manila on Wego.

Airport code

The codes for Ninoy Aquino International Airport are MNL (IATA) and RPLL (ICAO).

Location

NAIA is located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) south of Manila proper. Terminals 1 and 2 sit on the western side of the airfield off NAIA Road; Terminal 3 sits on the eastern side near Newport City and Villamor. The terminals are not connected airside, and road access to each is separate.

Arrivals and departures

You can check live arrival and departure status, timings and terminal assignments on the airport operator’s official website, newnaia.com.ph. Always confirm your terminal with your airline before travelling, since assignments have changed more than once since 2024.

Terminal 4 no longer operates

Guides that list four NAIA terminals are out of date. The original Terminal 4, the airport’s oldest passenger building and in service since 1948, closed on 6 November 2024. It was demolished from early 2025 to clear land for a new taxiway.

Its turboprop operators moved to Terminal 2 for a period, then left NAIA altogether when the airport completed a phase-out of turboprop flights in March 2026 to free up runway capacity for larger jets. Cebgo, AirSWIFT and Sunlight Air now serve their provincial routes from Clark and other regional bases rather than Manila.

NNIC is building a replacement Terminal 4 on the site of the former international cargo terminal, between Terminals 1 and 2. It is planned for around six gates without aerobridges, and is intended to take Philippines AirAsia’s domestic flights plus part of Cebu Pacific’s domestic operation. The target opening has already slipped from mid-2026 and no firm date has been announced. It is not open to passengers, so plan around three terminals only.

What each terminal handles now

Terminal 1 is international only. It is Philippine Airlines’ international base, and since March 2026 also handles the AirAsia group’s international flights, alongside most remaining Asian and Gulf carriers that have not yet moved to Terminal 3.

Terminal 2 is domestic only, and it is no longer exclusive to Philippine Airlines. Three carriers use it: Philippine Airlines, PAL Express and Philippines AirAsia. Cebu Pacific’s domestic flights are not here; they are at Terminal 3.

Terminal 3 is the largest terminal and the only one handling both domestic and international flights. It hosts the entire Cebu Pacific operation and most foreign carriers, including six that moved across from Terminal 1 in the 2026 reshuffle.

One consequence catches people out regularly: Philippine Airlines, PAL Express and Philippines AirAsia each operate from two different terminals depending on whether your flight is domestic or international. Check which one applies to your specific flight, not just your airline.

Terminal finder

Which NAIA terminal is my airline in?

Terminal assignments changed in March and April 2026, so older guides will send you to the wrong building. Search your airline below for its current terminal. Correct as of 25 August 2026.

Showing all airlines

Air CanadaAC · InternationalTerminal 3
Air ChinaCA · International · Moved from Terminal 1 in March 2026Terminal 3
Air FranceAF · International · Seasonal. Not operating in the summer 2026 seasonTerminal 3
Air IndiaAI · InternationalTerminal 1
Air MacauNX · InternationalTerminal 3
Air NiuginiPX · InternationalTerminal 1
AirAsia (Malaysia)AK · International · Moved from Terminal 3 in March 2026Terminal 1
All Nippon AirwaysNH · InternationalTerminal 3
Asiana AirlinesOZ · InternationalTerminal 1
Bamboo AirwaysQH · International · Charter service to Da NangTerminal 1
Batik Air MalaysiaOD · International · Terminal not published. Check with the airlineNot published
Cathay PacificCX · InternationalTerminal 3
Cebu Pacific5J · Domestic and international · Both domestic and international are at Terminal 3Terminal 3
China AirlinesCI · InternationalTerminal 1
China Eastern AirlinesMU · International · Moved from Terminal 1 in March 2026Terminal 3
China Southern AirlinesCZ · InternationalTerminal 3
EmiratesEK · InternationalTerminal 3
Ethiopian AirlinesET · InternationalTerminal 3
Etihad AirwaysEY · InternationalTerminal 3
EVA AirBR · InternationalTerminal 1
Greater Bay AirlinesHB · InternationalTerminal 3
Gulf AirGF · InternationalTerminal 3
HK ExpressUO · InternationalTerminal 3
Japan AirlinesJL · International · Moved from Terminal 1 in April 2026Terminal 3
Jeju Air7C · InternationalTerminal 3
JetstarJQ · International · Perth serviceTerminal 3
Jetstar JapanGK · InternationalTerminal 3
Juneyao AirHO · International · Shanghai Pudong service resumes September 2026Terminal 3
KLM Royal Dutch AirlinesKL · InternationalTerminal 3
Korean AirKE · InternationalTerminal 1
Kuwait AirwaysKU · InternationalTerminal 1
Malaysia AirlinesMH · InternationalTerminal 1
Nok AirDD · International · Terminal not published. Check with the airlineNot published
Oman AirWY · InternationalTerminal 1
PAL Express2P · International · Only Phnom Penh and Saipan. Domestic is at Terminal 2Terminal 1
PAL Express2P · Domestic · International flights are at Terminal 1Terminal 2
Philippine AirlinesPR · International · Domestic flights are at Terminal 2Terminal 1
Philippine AirlinesPR · Domestic · International flights are at Terminal 1Terminal 2
Philippines AirAsiaZ2 · International · Moved from Terminal 3 in March 2026. Domestic is at Terminal 2Terminal 1
Philippines AirAsiaZ2 · Domestic · International flights are at Terminal 1Terminal 2
QantasQF · InternationalTerminal 3
Qatar AirwaysQR · InternationalTerminal 3
Qingdao AirlinesQW · International · Changsha serviceTerminal 1
Riyadh AirRX · International · Manila service starts September 2026. Terminal not publishedNot published
Royal Air PhilippinesRW · Domestic · Charter and non-scheduled. Confirm before you travelTerminal 2
Royal Brunei AirlinesBI · International · Moved from Terminal 1 in March 2026Terminal 3
SaudiaSV · InternationalTerminal 1
ScootTR · InternationalTerminal 3
Shenzhen AirlinesZH · International · Moved from Terminal 1 in March 2026Terminal 3
Singapore AirlinesSQ · InternationalTerminal 3
STARLUX AirlinesJX · InternationalTerminal 3
Thai AirwaysTG · InternationalTerminal 3
Turkish AirlinesTK · InternationalTerminal 3
United AirlinesUA · InternationalTerminal 3
VietJet AirVJ · InternationalTerminal 1
Vietnam AirlinesVN · International · Moved from Terminal 1 in March 2026Terminal 3
XiamenAirMF · InternationalTerminal 1

No match for that search. Try the airline code instead, or check the list of carriers that have left NAIA below.

The airport operator recommends arriving 2 to 3 hours before a domestic flight and 3 to 4 hours before an international flight. Check-in cutoffs are set by each airline, not the airport, so confirm yours when you book. Terminal assignments can change at short notice, so reconfirm with your airline before you leave for the airport.

No longer at NAIA

Older airport guides still list these carriers. They no longer operate passenger flights from NAIA.

ZIPAIR (ZG) — Ended its Tokyo Narita to Manila route in March 2026
Jetstar Asia (3K) — Ceased all operations in July 2025
Cebgo (DG) — Left NAIA in the turboprop phase-out. Now operates from Clark
AirSWIFT (T6) — Folded into Cebgo in July 2026. Its flights operate from Clark, Cebu, Boracay and Bohol
Sunlight Air (2R) — Left NAIA in the turboprop phase-out

Source: New NAIA Infra Corp airline directory and live flight information, checked 25 August 2026.

Services and facilities

NAIA offers the usual range of airport services across its three terminals: lounges, dining, retail, connectivity and currency exchange. Terminals 1 and 3 handle international traffic and have the widest selection; Terminal 2 is domestic and more compact.

Before you fly: eTravel registration

Almost every traveller arriving in or departing from the Philippines must register with eTravel, the government’s free digital arrival and departure system. Registration opens 72 hours before your flight and produces a QR code that is scanned at immigration. There is no fee, and etravel.gov.ph is the only official site. Third-party sites charging for eTravel registration are not affiliated with the Philippine government.

Showing the QR code on your phone is accepted at all NAIA terminals; you do not need to print it. Registering before you leave for the airport saves time, since terminal Wi-Fi is not always reliable at peak hours.

Dining and shops

Terminal 3’s food offer was rebuilt substantially under the new operator and is now the best at the airport. Two large food halls anchor it:

Tambayan Food Hall on Level 1, a 6,200 square metre all-Filipino hall seating around 2,000 people, with 17 homegrown brands serving regional Filipino dishes.
Mezzanine Food Hall on Level 2, with roughly 22 standalone restaurants and cafés. Tenants include Mary Grace Cafe, Pancake House, Marugame Udon, Mama Lou’s, Banapple, Angel’s Pizza and KFC.

Airside options for departing international passengers have also expanded, with additions including Shake Shack, Wildflour, Conti’s, Ramen Nagi, Gloria Maris and Ladurée.

Terminals 1 and 2 have a more conventional airport line-up of fast food, cafés and convenience outlets. Convenience stores, pharmacies, Duty Free Philippines shops and souvenir retailers are concentrated in the international terminals, 1 and 3. Terminal 2’s retail offer is more limited, in line with its domestic role.

Tenant line-ups change as the operator re-tenders airport concessions, so treat any specific outlet list as indicative rather than guaranteed.

Lounges

NAIA has a mix of airline-operated lounges, independent pay-in lounges and credit card lounges. The main options are below. Pricing and card eligibility change frequently, so confirm directly with the lounge or your card issuer before relying on access.

Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge

Located in Terminal 1 for international departures and Terminal 2 for domestic, the Mabuhay Lounge is complimentary for Philippine Airlines Business Class passengers and eligible Mabuhay Miles elite members. It offers a self-service buffet including the airline’s well-known arroz caldo, cushioned seating with charging ports, shower rooms and runway views.

Marhaba Lounge

Marhaba operates pay-in lounges at Terminals 1 and 3, with walk-in access available subject to capacity. Amenities include hot food, snacks, Wi-Fi, showers, flight monitors and internet terminals. A number of Philippine bank cards, including selected BDO, UnionBank, AUB, EastWest and Security Bank premium products, include complimentary access. Check your specific card’s current benefits, as issuer lounge programmes are revised regularly.

PAGSS Premium Lounge

The Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions lounge operates at Terminals 1 and 3. It offers a buffet, unlimited drinks, runway views from a window bar, cushioned seating with charging ports, shower rooms and luggage storage. Access is complimentary for selected premium cardholders and available on a paid walk-in basis otherwise.

Cathay Pacific Lounge

Cathay Pacific operates a lounge in Terminal 3 for its Business Class passengers and eligible oneworld elite members, with a buffet, bar, workstations and Wi-Fi.

OFW Lounge

NAIA operates dedicated lounges for Overseas Filipino Workers, with free access on presentation of valid OFW documentation. We cover the location, amenities and eligibility rules in detail in our guide to the OFW Lounge at NAIA Manila Airport.

Wi-Fi and charging

NAIA runs a single free network, NewNAIA, across all terminals. NNIC upgraded the service in partnership with PLDT and Converge after taking over the airport, raising typical speeds to around 50 to 60 Mbps and extending free sessions to up to three hours. The older arrangement, under which Globe, Smart and Converge each offered separate one-to-three-hour daily allowances, no longer applies.

Connect by selecting the NewNAIA network and accepting the terms; the upgraded service no longer requires you to submit personal details. Laptop and phone charging stations are available in all three terminals, concentrated around departure gate areas and food courts.

Money and currency exchange

Terminals 1 and 3 have the widest financial services, with ATMs from major Philippine banks including BDO, BPI, PNB and Landbank, plus currency exchange counters run by both banks and licensed private operators. Rates vary noticeably between counters, so compare two or three before changing a large amount. Rates inside the terminals are generally worse than in the city, so exchange only what you need for your first day.

Terminal 2 has ATMs but a more limited exchange offering. Card acceptance is widespread across airport retail, though smaller outlets and taxi drivers may still prefer cash.

Getting to and from the city

NAIA sits inside Metro Manila, but traffic on EDSA and the airport road network can make a 7-kilometre trip take well over an hour at peak times. Options include accredited airport taxis, ride-hailing via Grab, the UBE Express and Genesis airport buses, and private transfers. We break down the routes, realistic journey times and current fares in our dedicated guide to Manila airport transfers from NAIA to the city centre.

If you are connecting onward rather than heading into the city, use the terminal transfer planner below and budget considerably more time than the distance suggests.

Transfer planner

Changing terminals at NAIA

Switching terminals is the thing travellers most often underestimate at Manila. The terminals sit barely a kilometre apart across the airfield, but the runway is between them, so you go the long way round by road. Pick your two terminals below.

You arrive at

You depart from

A terminal change means leaving the secure area. There is no airside link between NAIA terminals, no connecting walkway and no train. You clear arrival immigration, collect any checked bags, clear customs, exit to the curb, take the shuttle, then check in again and clear security and outbound immigration at the second terminal. Japan Airlines, which publishes a figure for Manila, sets a minimum connecting time of 180 minutes for a terminal change here. On an international-to-international connection you formally enter the Philippines, so you need an eTravel registration.

The free shuttle. The NNIC inter-terminal shuttle runs 24 hours a day and is free on presentation of your onward ticket. The airport website still says it departs hourly, but it runs a 12-bus fleet and travellers consistently report waits of 10 to 15 minutes. Board at the arrivals level curbside and follow the signs for Terminal Transfer; published bay numbers are inconsistent, so ask a marshal rather than hunting for a bay.

Do not let anyone tell you the wait is an hour. Touts, and sometimes uniformed staff, quote the old hourly interval to push arrivals into taxis at PHP 1,200 to PHP 5,500 for a five-minute hop. A legitimate metered taxi or Grab between terminals is roughly PHP 150 to PHP 400. In August 2026 a driver was given a lifetime ban for charging a passenger PHP 2,000 on one of these rides. At Terminal 3, ride-hailing pickup is in the multi-level car park hub, not at the curb.

Time to allow. Traffic is heavy but moving, and most travellers report 10 to 20 minutes in the vehicle. The transfer itself is rarely the problem; the full departure process at the second terminal is. NAIA terminal fees are already included in your ticket, so a terminal change costs you nothing extra at the airport. On separate tickets you carry the risk yourself, as no airline will re-book you if you miss the second flight.

Sources: New NAIA Infra Corp passenger transport information; Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways Manila transfer guides; Philippine reporting on inter-terminal shuttle operations and taxi overcharging, August 2026. Road distances measured by route, straight-line distances across the airfield.

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Sources

New NAIA Infra Corp, official airline directory, live flight information and passenger transport pages, newnaia.com.ph, accessed 25 August 2026.
Manila International Airport Authority, miaa.gov.ph.
Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Department of Transportation, eTravel, etravel.gov.ph.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways Manila transfer and minimum connecting time guides, updated April 2026.
Terminal reassignment announcements, March and April 2026, reported by the Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer and BusinessWorld.
Philippine reporting on NAIA inter-terminal shuttle operations and taxi overcharging enforcement, August 2026.

Airport operations at NAIA are being actively reorganised by its new operator, and terminal assignments, facilities and shuttle arrangements can change at short notice. The details in this guide were verified on 25 August 2026. Always confirm your terminal directly with your airline before travelling.