The country's main gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), served 50.1 million passengers in 2024, according to its operator, New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC).
In a statement on Thursday, Jan. 2, the company said the figure was 10.4 percent higher than the 45 million passengers reported in 2023, indicating steady growth in travel demand.
Excluding general aviation, the gateway also recorded 293,488 flights, an 8.08 percent increase compared with 2019 and a 4.83 percent rise from 2023.
“More Filipinos are flying, and more visitors are coming to the Philippines," said NNIC President Ramon S. Ang. "This growth is a clear sign that confidence in air travel has returned, and it motivates us to work even harder. Our goal is to ensure that NAIA provides a better experience for everyone—passengers, airlines, and partners alike,” he added.
The numbers highlight the country’s recovery as a travel destination and its growing role in tourism and trade in the region.
Since NNIC assumed operations in September, NAIA has steadily managed increasing passenger volumes while introducing operational improvements.
During the peak holiday travel period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, the airport recorded an average On-Time Performance (OTP) of 83.36 percent, with a high of 88.35 percent on Dec. 31, the highest OTP at NAIA since NNIC began managing the airport.
NNIC said its focus this year will be on further improving infrastructure and streamlining operations to keep up with rising passenger demand. This aligns with its goal of transforming NAIA into a modern, efficient airport that supports the country’s tourism and economic growth goals.