(Previously published. Updated and corrected to stay aligned with what the airlines are doing here in the Philippines)
Here’s a subject that comes up time and time again. What’s the deal with the airport or airports in Manila? We can help here at the old PhilFAQS info center but first of all we have to define a couple things.
First of all, for our purposes here, we will define and "airport" as one contiguous plot of ground that has one or more runways where aircraft land and take off and one or more terminals where people board or deplane from aircraft.
Does this seem a little too simplistic to you? Well, sorry if it does but I have seen more problems with this definition and people arguing over what constitutes and airport than you can imagine over the past 10 years or so … so defining the foundations of the discussion can’t really hurt.
Based on our definition here there is only one airport within Metro Manila and that is Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Ninoy Aquino) or NAIA (IATA: MNL, ICAO: RPLL), also known as Manila International Airport.
In common parlance here this entire place is typically referred to as "na e ah". Unlike many terms for airlines elsewhere, one doesn’t refer to it a "N","A","I","A",taxi drivers and others will just give you a blank stare. “Na e ah” it is.
Confusion often crops up due to the fact that there are 4 completely separate and independent terminals
on NAIA and you’d be well advised to know which one does what before you hail a cab and say "airport, please".
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Terminal One:
Also commonly known as the "International Terminal". This is the largest of the terminals in use and serves International flights operated by all airlines with one important exception. Philippine Airlines (PAL) (not to be confused with Air Philippines).
If you fly into NAIA on any airline except PAL you will have to change terminals on the ground to fly out to any other Philippine cities. This can be quite a hassle. Think through your connections before you chose an itinerary based strictly on price.
Terminal Two:
Also known as the PAL terminal. This building is for Philippine Airlines flight only … no other airlines use it … and it serves all Philippine Airline’s flight, international and domestic. It’s well-known I am no big friend of PAL, I often avoid them, but if you are flying to some city aside from Manila it may be well worth your while to explore booking the whole trip on PAL … simply because you won’t have to transfer to another terminal.
Terminal Three: This is now a part of NAIA that moves it up into a world-class airport. The building is modern and spacious. There is parking right in front. The security procedures flow smoothly, you are even allowed to enter the terminal when picking up an arriving passenger, and having flown in and out several times I can attest the systems work pretty smoothly.
Domestic Terminal:
This is also now sometimes called “Terminal 4 on some airline listings.) This is an older, but recently renovated building which is adequate for the current Domestic workload. assigned there,
It is several miles by road from any of the other terminals. I thought this terminal would be closed up by now, but several airlines, Zest Airways and Air Philippines and some other small lines are still using it.
Bottom Line:
If you are getting a taxi to the airport and the driver doesn’t ask you, "What airline", better make sure you know which terminal you need. If you were sched8uled for a flight from Terminal 3 and you sit back while the driver takes you to Terminal 1, where he is undoubtedly familiar with taking foreigners, you are liable to have a hard time catching your flight.
This map should help you keep it all straight:
View Manila Terminals in a larger map
DMIA (Clark):
One last bit of knowledge to complicate the situation. A number of discount airlines are using Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). This airport … with only one terminal (so far) .. is named after the previous president’s father, a Philippine president in his own right, and is located on the former USAF Clark AB, about 50 miles north of Manila.
There is a LOT of construction going on at DMIA right now and a great deal of Manila’s passenger traffic my transition there in the future. If you zoom out on the map, you can see Clark’s location.
The confusion factor again comes about because these airlines frequently list their flights as to or from Manila! It would be a long taxi ride to get from DMIA to NAIA so make sure, before you book that you and the airline are talking about the same "Manila".
ya its always been a odd layout, i assume that way because when they originally annexed the land they take enough to expansion, which seems to be a common thread with project planning in the Philippines.
Having flown into Manila several times I know what a hassle that can be. If I am flying from Los Angeles to the Philippines would I be better off to fly into Clark and then to Subic/Cubi ? My final destination is in the Kalibo Aklan, Panay area and I understand that there are several flights out of Subi to Kalibo. Of course I would also want to check out my old stomping grounds around Subic and Olongapo.
There are no flights I know of that fly to Subic. Subic and Clark are now less than 45 minutes apart via expressway, which I write about here frequently. There are now limited flights to Clark that show up on an international tool like this one. For some reason, Cebu pacific flights don’t show. Onward flights from Clark are limited, I know of none to Panay. Keep checking, or get a good travel agent. And thanks for dropping by.
SEAIR flies from Clark to Caticlan (Panay) twice a week (Tue, Fri).
Hi Laurence, thanks indeed for that update. That would likely be a very good way to travel.
“One last bit of knowledge to complicate the situation. A number of discount airlines are using Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). This airport … with only one terminal (so far) .. is named after the current president’s father and is located on the former USAF Clark AB, about 50 miles north of Manila.”
That certainly has complicated the situation. The current president’s father was Ninoy Aquino.
Ha ha ha. I updated the article to show the current status of Terminal 3 and I didn’t update that part, I expect I’ll be thrown out of the Philippines by Noynoy supporters within the enxt 24 hours, or else contacted by the news media to get the scoop on the chismis I just started, or third choice is, for that blalant bit of libel I might get thrown in jail. This running a blog can be dangerous, when anyone happens to read the darn thing
Thank you Laurence, good that you caught that, I fix now.
“.. is named after the previous president’s father”
I’ll be onto you about this when Noynoy gets replaced.
Dang, it’s a good thing someone reads this stuff
Thanks for the timely map etc.
On Monday this week, we arrived PAL into Terminal 2 needing to connect with our onward (non-PAL) flight out of Terminal 1.
“Let’s get the free shuttle” my wife suggested. A great idea, except that our shuttle was a service provided by the new gambling-driven Resort World complex.
So we eventually got to Terminal 1 after about 45 minutes of touring via the Marriott etc. This marketing foray was a waste of time on us I’m afraid. We’re sceptical of Marriott safety (check out their fortress-like anti-bombing installations), and we’re not disposed to patronise gambling facilities.
Cheers!
@william (ID 3735): Thanks for the update/real world experience. In the nearly 11 years I have been coming and going from the Philippines I have heard about a “free shuttle” between the terminals many times. I never was able to find it. Sounds as if I didn’t miss much. I probably should write some articles about marketing and how it’s done here in the Philippines. Just had to go in the other room where my phone was to see who was texting me to tell me about a huge “use your credit card” promo that starts Oct 15th. Umm, hello, that’s not why I gave you my cell phone number. We don’t care, we got ir, we are going to use it. Like your unwanted bus excursion, very annoying indeed.
What is the best way to get from terminal 1 to terminal 3 without using the shuttle? My flight arrives at 9:30 PM and leaves at 4:20AM. Thanks
Bob, there is a “Transfer” desk on your left as you leave the room where you deplane, it’s on your way to the Immigration Hall. They may be able to help.
Otherwise, stop at the Nissan Taxi desk on your right after leaving customs, just before you hit the street. They cost more but they are fixed rate and are monitored, 24×7 by Departnent of Tourism security personnel.
Dave,
Jetstar have just announced direct flights between Darwin (Aus) and Manila.
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/top-end-connection-20101015-16mxe.html
I noticed the map shows the Manila Airport Hotel! A very convenient place to stay and in walking distance of Terminal 1. Unfortunately, in the two years or so I have stayed there I have seen a deterioration of the premises and now some weird ‘customer service’ ideas afflicting guests.
Stay there at your own risk, but I won’t be seeing you there.. lol
@ Bernie:
Thanks for that update, Bernie. Care to share anything specific about what you found wrong? What hotel do you recommend?
I book hotels through Agoda and have just refreshed my memory from my comments left after my last transit through Manila. There are many negative comments regarding the Manila Airport Hotel, and many express a similar view to mine. Here is a copy and paste of my last comment from January this year..
“Returning to Manila and this hotel was a worse experience than my earlier departure stay. I was again subjected to this strange waiting period so my room ‘could be prepared’ at 8pm! Just what every tired traveller wants – NOT – to be kept waiting in the foyer while the mundane tasks of turning on the lights, tv and air-conditioning are performed like some weird ritual. That is, once a staff member can be located! The run-down nature of this establishment was further emphasized by the room I was dumped in on this occasion. Poor decor, stained linen, shower fittings loose in the wall, no sink plugs, no shampoo – avoid room 2I8 if you don’t want the same fate! In conclusion I can’t recommend this hotel unless it is important for you to be close to Terminal 1 – or you are completely oblivious to the quality of your accommodation.”
After calling for their very slow shuttle service, and then arriving at the hotel after they have had around 1 hour to prepare my room knowing I am on my way, yet the room is not ‘ready’ is unacceptable!
They have refitted the restaurant area to a good standard, but the rest of the building is becoming very dilapidated as though nobody cares about guest comfort, nor the opinions of guests. Perhaps the location is keeping the hotel occupancy rate high enough for them!
I have tried the Nichols Airport Hotel – not located so conveniently, cheaper tariff, but they hit you with more fees and poor food.. just warmed over frozen vegs. The manager(?) asked me if I enjoyed the meal.. I told him it was very average, and of course too expensive IMHO.
So I still have to find a suitable Manila hotel that is conveniently located, with a reasonable tariff and a decent standard of accommodation. My usual arrival/departure times are early/late so I prefer to be located not too far from NAIA if possible.
Perhaps some readers are able to make suggestions?
@ Bernie
Thanks, Bernie. that should help a lot of people.
Can you buy a SIM card for a cell phone in terminal 2?
@ Don,
i would certainly think you could. Load, SIM cards and other cell phone “thingies” are as common for sale as Coca Cola and snacks. Be sure to look around/ask around _before_ you head to immigration and then baggage claim and customs, because there may not be many stores/kiosks on the way out.