Queues at immigration counters are visibly thinner at NAIA at 4:30 a.m. — a known peak hour — on Holy Tuesday, even as passenger traffic saw a notable increase from the same day of the Holy Week last year.
PASSENGER traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is off to a strong start this Holy Week, with the eight-day travel period — from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday—already showing higher passenger volumes in its first three days compared to the same period last year.
From Palm Sunday to Holy Tuesday (April 13–15), New NAIA Infra Corporation (NNIC) recorded the following numbers:
April 13 (Palm Sunday): 150,511 passengers (vs. 134,660 in 2024)
April 14 (Holy Monday): 142,560 passengers (vs. 124,481 in 2024)
April 15 (Holy Tuesday): 140,407 passengers (vs. 128,047 in 2024)
These early figures cover just the first half of the Holy Week travel period — from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday (April 13 to 20). Applying the same passenger load factor recorded by airlines last year, NNIC projected that over 1.18 million passengers would pass through NAIA during this 8-day period — around 14% more than in 2024.
Despite higher passenger traffic, NNIC said that airport operations have so far been smooth, with measures put in place to better manage the surge, working as planned.
The Bureau of Immigration had earlier deployed additional officers across all NAIA terminals to ease congestion, resulting in shorter lines and faster processing for outbound passengers. This included Immigration counters at the newly opened lanes exclusively for overseas Filipino workers at Terminal 3.
NNIC meanwhile deployed more traffic personnel to better manage vehicular traffic going in and out of the terminals.
Passenger assistance booths have also been put up, manned by NNIC personnel together with medical and security staff to further ensure the safety and convenience of passengers.
An earlier online news report mentioned fewer passengers at Terminal 3 based on a photo taken around 11:00 a.m. on Holy Tuesday. NNIC clarified that this was a snapshot from non-peak hours, and does not reflect the full-day totals or peak travel hours. Hourly foot traffic at airports changes throughout the day — and daily numbers show a steady upward trend, it said.
Meanwhile, at around 4:30 a.m. on Holy Tuesday — a known peak hour for departures — DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, accompanied by Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado, MIAA General Manager Eric Ines, and NNIC General Manager Lito Alvarez, conducted an inspection of Terminal 3. Immigration counters were fully manned and processing was smooth and efficient.
Since the inspection, monitoring reports have consistently indicated smooth and efficient processing at Terminal 3 — typically the busiest among NAIA’s three terminals. Passenger flow has remained steady, reflecting the positive impact of improved coordination among airport agencies.
This increase in passengers at NAIA, an indicator of stronger travel demand, is seen as a welcome boost to the economy. Higher passenger volume means more activity across tourism, hospitality, transport, and retail, creating opportunities for businesses and the broader workforce nationwide.
“This has been a strong start to the Holy Week period,” said NNIC President Ramon S. Ang. “We are especially grateful for the leadership and quick response of the Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Immigration, particularly in deploying more officers during peak hours. Just as important is the cooperation we’ve seen from all our partners — MIAA, our regulator, the Office for Transportation Security, PNP-Aviation Security Group, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Quarantine and all our airline stakeholders. Everyone has stepped up to make sure the passengers experience is smooth and efficient.
He added: “We also like to thank in advance all the men and women working across NAIA — our frontliners, operations teams, security, maintenance, and support staff — who continue to put in long hours and make personal sacrifices to keep things running during one of the busiest times of the year. Even as the rush continues, their hard work behind the scenes is already making a positive difference for our passengers.”
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