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Posts tagged as “Ninoy Aquino International Airport”

Travel: Riyadh Air Now Offers Direct Flight to Manila

September 13, 2026
Travel: Riyadh Air Now Offers Direct Flight to Manila

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new flag carrier owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), officially expanded its Asian footprint following the successful completion of its inaugural flight, RX 0873, to Manila on September 9. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner departed King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh and landed smoothly at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), marking the official start of direct, non-stop service between the two capitals.

Manila represents Riyadh Air’s 13th global destination and 7th in Asia. The route bridges one of the Middle East’s most vital labor, commerce, and tourism corridors with a modern, high-comfort widebody product.

Strategic Significance of the Corridor


Saudi Arabia is home to over one million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) spanning healthcare, engineering, construction, hospitality, and domestic services. For decades, travel between the two capitals relied heavily on third-country Gulf hubs or established legacy carriers. By introducing direct flights, Riyadh Air delivers a seamless, point-to-point journey that saves hours of travel time while facilitating bilateral trade, business partnerships, and tourism.

This route directly supports the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Vision 2030, aimed at enhancing the Kingdom’s international connectivity to over 250 global destinations.

Route Operations & Flight Schedule


The route operates using a state-of-the-art, dual-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Initially running four times weekly, the route will ramp up to daily frequencies to handle peak year-end travel demand:

Flight Number Departure Airport Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time Frequency
RX 0873 Riyadh (RUH) 01:05 AST Manila (MNL) 15:55 PHT Daily
RX 0874 Manila (MNL) 17:25 PHT Riyadh (RUH) 22:15 AST Daily

Note: Initial launch operations run four times weekly, scaling up to daily frequencies to meet peak year-end travel demand.

Onboard Passenger Experience


Riyadh Air’s 787-9 fleet brings a modern passenger experience tailored for long-haul travel across Asia and Europe:

  • Cabin Layout: Configured across Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy, and Ergonomic Economy class sections.
  • In-Flight Entertainment: Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova OLED screens featuring wireless audio pairing and fast mobile device charging.
  • Connectivity & Hospitality: High-speed inflight Wi-Fi, curated dining menus fusing authentic Saudi hospitality with international flavors, and integration with the carrier’s Sfeer loyalty ecosystem.

NNIC takes over NAIA, hits the ground running  

September 16, 2024

San Miguel Corp;

The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has officially taken over management and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and with it, the task of modernizing the 76-year-old gateway.

NNIC, the consortium that includes San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Incheon International Airport Corporation, has committed to spend P170 billion to execute its phased but ambitious plan to elevate NAIA to world-class standards. This includes plans to increase passenger capacity from 43 million to 62 million annually and air traffic movements from 42 to 48 per hour.

The government stands to gain about P1 trillion in revenues from the PPP project over the 25-year concession period. This includes the 82.16-percent revenue share to be remitted to the government yearly.

Travelers can expect business as usual, with flights, check-ins, and other services proceeding as normal. The plans for NAIA’s modernization, including terminal reassignments and infrastructure upgrades, will be implemented gradually and strategically in the coming months and years.

NNIC has assured the public that the transition will be seamless, with no disruptions to airport operations.

The things that SMC listed for the Immediate Improvements are things that are supposedly being done by the previous management.

Philippine Airlines announces new NAIA Terminal Assignment

March 28, 2023
Philippine Airlines announces new NAIA Terminal Assignment

In connection to the MIAA’s announcement regarding the terminal changes for domestic and international flights. Philippine Airlines (PAL) made their own announce regarding the new terminal assignment.

In a nutshell, all PAL flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh, and Singapore will depart from and arrive at Terminal 1, then All other PAL international flights, as well as all domestic flights, depart from and arrive at NAIA Terminal 2.

Here’s the full text of PAL’s announcement;

Travel Advisory
CHANGES IN PAL’S MANILA (NAIA) TERMINALS
Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore flights will use NAIA Terminal 1 from April 16, 2023.

Starting April 16, 2023, Philippine Airlines flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh, and Singapore will depart from and arrive at Terminal 1 of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), along with PAL flights to the United States, Guam, Canada and Bali.

All other PAL international flights, as well as all domestic flights, depart from and arrive at NAIA Terminal 2. Please see the full list below.

Please check the flight terminal assigned to your flight before proceeding to the airport, to ensure a hassle-free departure and arrival.

Shuttle buses between Terminals 1 and 2 will be available for PAL passengers arriving in either terminal and connecting to a flight in the other terminal. Passengers of other airlines may use the shuttle buses provided by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

The transfer of these additional routes to Terminal 1 is part of a terminal reassignment initiative of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to ease congestion and improve passenger convenience at all terminals.

Complete List of PAL flights and corresponding Manila terminals:
From April 16, 2023:

T1 – NAIA TERMINAL 1 – Departures and Arrivals:

  • Vietnam – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
  • Phnom Penh
  • Singapore
  • Bali
  • Middle East – Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh
  • Canada – Toronto, Vancouver
  • United States – Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu
  • Guam

T2 – NAIA TERMINAL 2 – Departures and Arrivals:
All PAL Domestic Flights

  • Australia – Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne
  • Bangkok
  • Korea – Seoul (Incheon), Busan
  • Japan – Fukuoka, Tokyo (Haneda), Tokyo (Narita), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya
  • Mainland China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinjiang, Xiamen, Hong Kong
  • Jakarta
  • Kuala Lumpur
  • Macau
  • Port Moresby
  • Taipei

If your flight is departing on or before April 15, 2023, these are the NAIA terminals in use at present:
MANILA DEPARTURES and ARRIVALS (until April 15, 2023 only):
• NAIA Terminal 1 – for PAL International flights to/from the United States and Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Bali.
• NAIA Terminal 2 – for all PAL domestic and international flights, except flights to/from the United States and Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Bali.

Thank you.

MIAA announces terminal change for domestic and international flights

March 28, 2023
MIAA announces terminal change for domestic and international flights

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) just announced the second phase of its Schedule & Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR) program in April.

In their announcement, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 will only be for all domestic flights. While Terminals 1 and 3, are now assigned for international flights, since there are wider selection of food and retail stores, and duty free shopping for passengers.

MIAA also said that “under the new scheme, Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) will be deployed in Terminals 1 and 3.

Here are the dates to remember for the MIAA Schedule & Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR)

April 16

  • Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Asia, Scoot, China Southern Airlines and Starlux Airlines will be transferred to Terminal 3.
  • Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights to and from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh will be transferred to Terminal 1.

June 1

  • Ethiopian Airlines and Jeju Air will transfer to Terminal 3.

June 16

  • All international flights of Philippine Airlines will move to Terminal 1.

July 1

  • This will be the third phase of STAR, all domestic flights of Philippines AirAsia will be operated from NAIA Terminal 2.
  • Domestic operations of Cebu Pacific will remain in Terminals 3 and 4.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) kicked-off their Schedule & Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR) program in December 2022. where they reassigned PAL flights to and from the United States, the Middle East, Canada and Bali to Terminal 1.

This is what MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said regarding the STAR Program;

With this move, we expect a significant increase in Terminal 2’s capacity from 7.5M to 10M passengers a year, 20 to 25% more than its current rate.

The STAR program is a well-studied undertaking. We met with affected airlines and stakeholders to make sure they come up with their readiness plan as part of these changes. We advised them to get in touch with their affected passengers so they can inform them of the new terminal assignments.

While we are planning for a seamless transition, there could be some minor inconveniences during this period hence our appeal for understanding as this is part of our strategic program to improve the overall experience of our customers.